Topic 1: Ingredients of Successful Ageing

Understanding the stages of ageing

1. Group session (30 min)
• Presentation of the 5 Stages of Ageing.
• Discussion
2. Autonomous work (1 hour)
• Each participant will construct their future lives based on the 5 stages of ageing.
• Give as many details as possible.
3. Group session (30 min)
• Each participant will present their future selves.
• Group reflection.

The 5 stages of ageing

*Based on the (in)dependence levels of the person

1. Independence
2. Interdependence
3. Dependence
4. Crisis Management
5. End of Life

Read: Aging at Home: The 5 Stages of the Aging Process –Loli Bellport

Present your future self!

• Study the 5 stages of ageing
• Imagine yourself in each of these stages
• Be as detailed as possible (needs, desires, level of independence, social circle etc.)
• Presentation
• Group reflection

Discussing factors of successful ageing

Autonomous work (40 min): Read the article: “Age-friendly cities of Europe”

• Locate the factors of successful ageing.
• Note the most interesting strategies or the ones with the most potential

Further study: Read the approach to healthy ageing by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

WHO Age-friendly Cities framework

The WHO Age-friendly Cities framework has proposed 8 interconnected domains that identify and address barriers to the well-being and participation of the elderly

• Community and healthcare
  • A wide range of accessible and affordable health services
• Transportation
  • Accessible, affordable and safe public transport
  • Age-friendly driving conditions and parking facilities
• Housing
  • Affordable, well-designed and safe housing
  • A range of housing options with good connectivity to social services and the community
• Social Participation
  • A range of accessible and affordable activities
  • Encouraging participation and intergenerational integration
• Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
  • A pleasant, clean and secure environment with green spaces
  • Age-friendly buildings, pavements and walkways, safe pedestrian crossings and adequate rest areas
• Respect and Social Inclusion
  • Respect for seniors
  • Social and economic inclusion
• Civic Participation and Employment
  • Volunteerism and employment opportunities
  • Encouraging civic participation
• Communication and Information
  • Appropriate and age-friendly distribution of information

Group session (1 hour)

Discuss all the different factors of successful ageing

• What is happening in our country?
• Which strategies you found most interesting?
• Can they be adopted in our country?

Reviewing the rights and needs of the ageing populations

Group session (1,5 hours)

• Watch and discuss
• Study and reflect
• Read and compare

Useful links:

• Human rights are for all ages: The EU must lead the rallying for a UN convention
• The global alliance for the rights of older people

Watch the video “How older people’s human rights are denied” developed by HelpAge international and the United Nations Development Programme.

• Hold a group discussion and make a list of the rights and the needs of the ageing population according to your opinion

Read the report of the Secretary-General of UNHR about the human rights of older persons and also read the European Pillar of Social Rights. 

• Compare them with your group’s list and reflect upon them.

Read the AGE’s Human Rights Manifesto and then learn about the rights-based approach to ageing by reading this overview (again by the AGE Platform Europe).

• Reflect upon those issues.

"Seeing older people as a burden also devalues the work of people who care for them. Ageism therefore makes it difficult to invest in care and improve the status and working conditions for caregivers."
- AGE Platform Europe –Human Rights Are For All Ages, page 8

Ageing as a growth process

Structure: 40 minutes of autonomous work and 1 hour group session.

Autonomous work: Watch a video for inspiration and then search for a real-life case of a senior citizen that showcases of elements of growth. 

• Start by watching the video “Growing old is a blessing” by Maria Alejandro, a seniors advocate, for inspiration. 
• Each participant has to find a real-life case of a senior citizen that showcases elements of growth and prepare it for presentation to the whole group. 
• The examples can be from personal experience or search on the internet. A place to start is WHO’s “Portraits of life beyond 65”.

Group session: Presentation of the cases, discussion on the perspective that ageing is a growth process and mention of good practices.

• How can this be facilitated?
• How can we contribute?
• You can also mention examples of good practices