The Benefits of Activity in Later Life

At any age, being active mentally, physically and socially, is vital to a sense of well-being and wholeness as a person. We draw our identity from the things we have done and are currently doing, from our thought-life, and from our relationships with other people. It is essential for health to get a good balance between socialising, leisure pursuits, productivity and rest. Too much or too little emphasis on any one of these areas on a regular basis can lead to stress-related illness, poor motivation, boredom or exhaustion - setting ourselves up for ill-health, unhappiness and lack of fulfilment.

This is as true in later life as it is at any other age. The main problems facing people after retirement tend to be under-stimulation, loss of life roles and lack of purpose. Some older people lose a sense of the meaning of their existence, leading to increasing psychological ill-health and the eventual diminishing of reasons to go on investing in life.

This all sounds very depressing - all the more so because in most cases it is completely unnecessary! There is no reason why people should become inactive because of their age or encroaching disabilities. Activity might be limited, but this does not mean that it is necessary to be totally inactive - a passive recipient of care.

Using a person-centred approach Active for Life seeks to provide training for all those working with or caring for older people, in order to improve the quality of life of their clients, friends and relatives.

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