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BETTER, LONGER
& HAPPIER
A guide to aging with purpose and positivity
The BETTER, LONGER & HAPPIER GUIDE is comprised of 12 card decks or Modules. They have been developed for Program and Life Enhancement Directors whose goal is to engage senior residents in activities, programs and discussions that are exciting, cognitively challenging, and conducive to fostering a positive mindset about aging and managing setbacks.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT LIVING
LONGER AND HEALTHIER
- Why It Matters: Science has taught us that how long we live and how healthy we are in later years is under our control, and not solely determined by our genes. We have learned a lot about longevity from the world’s oldest old – what lifestyle characteristics contribute to a long, healthy life. The content of this Module serves as a blueprint for participants to follow when making informed decisions about lifestyle and longevity.
- Employees Benefit by learning and sharing how important our attitude, outlook and mindset are in determining our longevity, and how so much of how long we live is under our control.
- Residents Benefit by Experiencing a new approach to healthy aging represented by choice, informed decision making, and control, and not helplessness and hopelessness
SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT AGE IS
ONLY A NUMBER
- Why It Matters: Chronological age is not necessarily a good predictor of how long someone will live, nor does it say anything about what we should or should not be doing at a given age. There are other types of ages, like health age and biological age, that more accurately reflect “how old” we are. And learn how health span and life span take on greater importance in today’s successful aging climate.
- Employees Benefit overcoming bias regarding age and longevity and learning that chronological age determines neither health span nor inevitable decline.
- Residents Benefit by Experiencing cases of “advanced age” that defy negative, stereotyped attitudes.
WHY THINKING STYLES MATTER
TO LONG-TERM OUTLOOKS
- Why It Matters: The way we perceive, explain, or interpret an unpleasant event colors our ability to manage, or cope with that event. Our attitude, our thinking pattern, and our outlook have a strong impact on how well we age and how well we handle setbacks in our lives. Participants learn how the views we adopt of these events are under our control, and how these perceptions can change.
- Employees Benefit by learning and sharing principles of positive psychology and new tools that empower Participants to successfully manage physical, personal, and mental challenges.
- Residents Benefit by Experiencing strategies to reframe events, increase positive self-talk, and expand thinking with brain tools.
HOW TO START A NEW AND
POSITIVE CHAPTER IN LIFE
- Why It Matters: Our life journey can be looked at in terms of milestones, or major life events. With each event, we look at starting a new chapter, whether pleasant or not, or desired or not. We have the power to re-define or re-invent ourselves with each new chapter. We learn how to write a new script for ourselves, for an uplifting, inspiring future.
- Employees Benefit by discovering and sharing the powerful process of re-definition and re-invention.
- Residents Benefit by Experiencing the “blank screen” available when starting a new chapter in our lives.
EFFECTIVE COPING SKILLS WHEN
FACED WITH SETBACKS
- Why It Matters: As we age, physical, emotional, mental, and personal setbacks are frequent challenges. There are solution-oriented coping skills that can be learned to help manage or overcome these setbacks. These skills are indispensable for participants to stay positive, no matter what gets in the way.
- Employees Benefit by learning and providing exercises to build resilience and coping ability.
- Residents Benefit by Experiencing reduced stress and anger, and increased confidence and resilience even as aging impacts motor, auditory, and visual skills.
INCREASING RESIDENT
ENGAGEMENT AND COMMITMENT
- Why It Matters: The latest scientific research shows us that staying socially engaged is an essential ingredient to living longer and healthier. Friendships, young and old, and close family support result in more meaningful and purposeful lives, especially in our senior years. Participants become more community-minded, expand their relationships, and desire to be more socially engaged.
- Employees Benefit by learning and sharing upsides to and incentives of increased social engagement.
- Residents Benefit by Experiencing the successes and rewards that come with small steps and risk-taking.
YOUR SOLUTION TO OVERCOMING
DEPRESSION
- Why It Matters: One approach to lifting depression is to see the positives in our life, not just the negatives, the failures, losses, and disappointments. Participants develop a shift in mindset and learn to pay attention to residual strengths, to what they have and can do, not just what they do not have or cannot do.
- Employees Benefit by demonstrating how identifying residual strengths can reduce depression.
- Residents Benefit by Experiencing how selflimiting beliefs and narrowed perceptions become a psychological burden.
WHY WE NEED A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF DEPRESSION,
DEMENTIA, AND DELIRIUM (3 D’S)
- Why It Matters: These conditions are inevitable during the aging process, but they are common. Participants learn what the similarities and the differences are among these three conditions. More education about these leads to more informed decision-making among older adults and their caregivers.
- Employees Benefit by developing a broad understanding of the signs/symptoms of the 3 D’s.
- Residents Benefit by Experiencing insight into these conditions and reassurance that staff are more informed.
THE SECRET IS OUT: HOW
TO CHANGE BEHAVIOR
- Why It Matters: Changing behaviors is one of the most difficult tasks a person can take on. Participants learn to overcome internal and external barriers, set realistic goals, and find successes that build confidence and motivation.
- Employees Benefit in their understanding of and sharing recommendations on overcoming barriers and goal setting.
- Residents Benefit by Experiencing how short-term goals and small rewards outdo long-term goals.
EXPANDING OUR BRAIN
AND NEUROPLASTICITY
- Why It Matters: Neuroplasticity refers to the capacity of the brain to reorganize its structure and function, a relatively new understanding of brain growth. With the brain’s capacity to continue growing and evolving in response to life experiences, exercises and activities are introduced to foster more cognitive growth than previously thought possible.
- Employees Benefit by learning the breakthrough body of knowledge of brain growth and potential.
- Residents Benefit by Experiencing a complete re-thinking of new doors that can be opened.
HOW TO ACCESS THE WEALTH
OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE
ON SUCCESSFUL AGING
- Why It Matters: We are living in a time when so much information and recommendations become available for longevity and well-being. From our curated selections, Participants learn about the most dependable, practical, and evidence-based resources now ready to stay up to date and well informed.
- Employees Benefit by learning and sharing methods to locate learning sites and how to filter them.
- Residents Benefit by Experiencing new passageways to an uplifting, refreshing future.
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WE
HAVE AHEAD
- Why It Matters: Successful aging is all about maintaining a positive outlook, resilience, and inspiration about our future. Aging no longer means decline, helplessness and dependency. In this Module, Participants learn to celebrate aging, and build on our wisdom, compassion, independence, and lifelong experience to enjoy their senior years and cope with whatever struggle comes their way.
- Employees Benefit spotlighting for Participants the upsides to aging – from many perspectives.
- Residents Benefit by Experiencing what we now know about aging well and managing setbacks.
