Abstract
In their refreshing and eminently readable book about the gift of aging, Marcy Cottrell Houle and Elizabeth Eckstrom provide an excellent evidence-based “map” and “compass” for embracing positivity, planning, and perseverance for thriving into one's 80s, 90s, and 100s. Grounded in knowledge from interviews with individuals in their 70s, 80s, 90s, and 100s,
The gift of aging presents realities of later adulthood within a broad range of normal aging experiences. The reader is also treated to evidence-based approaches for maximizing the quality of aging experiences. This content includes information from research in global “Blue Zones” where a significant number of centenarians are living in good health. These sites include Nuoro Province in Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Icaria, Greece; Okinawa, Japan; and the Seventh Day Adventist community in Linda Loma, California. In these areas, centenarians rarely experience heart disease, depression, diabetes, and dementia. Dementia occurs at a 75% lower rate than in the United States. To provide context, in the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index (2022), the United States is listed at #34, and its ranking goes down every year (pp. 6–7).
Author Houle describes the Humanitude methodology of care that is implemented globally to reduce isolation. This is a research-based interdisciplinary strengths-based practice methodology of care interventions consistent with social work values and practice. It is practiced “through the exchange of looks, words, and touch, to provide well-being to those who have been estranged from society for reasons of age, vulnerability, or ill health. By being offered respect and compassion, frail elders are given value and dignity, and learn to feel they have not been abandoned” (p. 56). The co-founder of this approach (with Tokyo geriatrician Dr. Miyako Honda), Yves Gineste from France has said “Each time I look at you, each time I talk to you, I am speaking to your brain. If I give you love and respect, I am letting you feel you belong to human species. If I disregard you, it leads to your depersonalization. The most important thing in caring for others? It is tenderness” (p. 61).
Author Houle refers to age as the great leveler, but also writes that African Americans have been at a disadvantage in discussions about healthy aging. She refers to Karen Wells's concern that African Americans grow old without good healthcare. Wells has been very involved in Portland, Oregon, with PreSERVE, a coalition of community residents and local organizations, including nonprofits, for African American Memory and Brain Health. PreServe has disseminated information in a newsletter, sponsors monthly meetings, workshops, and sponsored a conference on Aging and Memory in the African American Community. Wells attests to “Classism. Misogynism. Racism. Ageism. And…white privilege” as contributing to inequality in health care for older adults and communities of color (pp. 224–225).
Physician Eckstrom writes that social isolation and loneliness do not always coexist, but both can be deleterious to health. Dr. Eckstrom urges readers to maintain their own social networks and alleviate social isolation of friends and neighbors (p. 71). Likewise, social workers need to be attentive to isolation experienced by clients of all ages. Dr. Eckstrom lists action items for preventing social isolation (p. 72).
Additional practical action items are detailed in lists throughout The gift of aging. These include promotion of healthy brain aging (pp. 79–84); protecting your bones throughout life, including falls prevention (pp. 88–92); bladder, kidney, and perineal health (pp. 94–98); maintenance of the cardiovascular system (pp. 99–111); recipes for a Mediterranean diet (pp. 263–270); maintenance of immune system (pp. 121–122); addressing pain (pp. 123–132); estate planning for all ages (pp. 135–152), including an ethical will (pp. 164–169); financial planning from the twenties through the hundreds (pp. 153–163); caregiving (pp. 171–174); options for living arrangements (pp. 175–180); reducing ageism in oneself and others (pp. 181–184); fear of dying (pp. 196–202); and grief and loss (pp. 204–214). This content provides social workers with readily accessible tools to provide education, direct practice on multiple levels, policy development, and engage in research and self-reflection.
The gift of aging: Growing older with purpose, planning, and positivity concludes with a statement by Lucille Pierce, calligrapher approaching age 102, that “Each phase of life has its blessings, as well as its trials, so enjoy what you can now. As far as I know, this is the only chance we get. Old age isn’t so frightening. Do all that you can to stay healthy, keep active mentally and physically, then recognize that all things eventually wear out and you will too. It helps to be able to laugh at yourself! Remember, death itself is just another phase of life” (p. 258).
