1. “What’s next for us?”
“Productive Aging!”
Jan Hively
(Janet M. Hively, PhD)
HIVEL001@umn.edu

2. Perception:
“Aging is a big problem”
• Focus of public officials and service
providers on meeting needs of the frail
elderly
• Tradition of seeing seniors as dependents
• Fear of increasing longevity – pensions
and medical costs

3. Actually, older adult productivity
is a “vital force” for communities
– Valuable unpaid work includes
volunteering, teaching and caring for
grandchildren, caring for the sick and/or
disabled
– In communities where there are fewer
young families, older adults are filling in
and providing leadership to keep the
community going

4. It’s time to see the true potential of aging
• Understanding the capacity of the brain
– We produce new brain cells right to the end
– Life experience interacts with the changes in the
brain to expand practical (social, emotional, etc.)
intelligence in later life
– Positive brain changes happen because of aging,
not in spite of it!!
– But if we are not psychologically ready, nothing
will happen. We’ve got to “turn the light on”

5. What contributes to positive,
productive aging?
• Lifelong learning!
– In the U.S., 78% of ages 55-70 would like the “do-
over” chance for more or better education
– 90% of age 50+ agree that they want to learn:
• To keep up with what’s going on (93%)
• For spiritual or personal growth (92%)
• For the joy of learning something new (91%)
• Informal teaching and learning!
• Everyone is both a teacher and a learner lifelong

6. What contributes to positive aging?
• Exercising the 6 dimensions of wellness!
– Physical – nutrition, walking, dancing
– Mental – puzzles, reading, learning
– Social – clubs, visiting, discussion groups
– Emotional – laughing, loving, arguing
– Vocational – crafts, homemaking, work
– Spiritual – reflection, meditation
• Opportunities for creative expression
– “Creativity is like chocolate for the brain.”
Gene Cohen, The Mature Mind, 2005

7. Healthy aging =
Productive aging
• Older adults involved in meaningful work are
more healthy and more satisfied with life
• Retirees engaged in productive activities are more
satisfied with their retirement, unless involved
exclusively with caregiving
• Motivation for work in retirement is primarily for
fulfillment & challenge rather than $
• “Encore Careers” movement in the U.S. is
changing expectations for life after “retirement”

8. Hunger for meaning
• In the workplace:
– “I just do the same thing over and over.”
– “There’s no room for creativity.”
– “It no longer matches up with my interests.”
• In retirement:
– “I stay busy but I miss getting something
accomplished through team effort.”
– “Work was my life, and now I have no life.”

9. Meaningful work plays an
important role in later life..
What is “meaningful work”??

10. “Meaningful work”
• “Meaning” subject to diverse, personal,
individual perspectives
• Requires mindfulness – focused effort
• Produces results
• Attracts positive reinforcement
• Matches up with passions and skills
• Stimulates learning

11. Why work? Why volunteer?
From survey of older adults
Work: Volunteer:
Need the money Feel responsibility
Uses my skills See the need & have time
Fills the time Uses my skills
Gives me identity Feel appreciated
Provides social life Gives me self-respect
Makes me feel younger Provides social network
Enjoy working Provides valuable service

12. “Meaningful work”
• “Meaning” subject to diverse, personal,
individual perspectives
• Requires mindfulness – focused effort
• Produces results
• Attracts positive reinforcement
• Matches up with passions and skills
• Stimulates learning

13. What’s next for us?
Sharing our strengths!!
• Social interaction with a purpose
– Doing the work that is needed
– Helping ourselves, each other, and our
community
• Networking!

14. Examples of Networks:
Those co-founded by Hively
Vital Aging Network Artsage
Monthly meeting Creative Arts & Aging
Website & e-newsletter Artists teach creative
Seeing new opportunities expression
Advocacy leadership Showcase for older adult
education creativity: dance,
theater, visual arts,
Vital Communities that
crafts, writing
support Vital Aging
Work with memory care
www.vital-aging-network.org
www.mncaan.net

15. Hively Networks, continued
SHiFT
• Started with weekly meetings in coffee houses for
people in midlife and beyond who were seeking
meaningful work
• Developed website with biweekly e-newsletter
• Now.. Forums, Peer Circles with counselors for
life planning, Interest Groups
• Midternships – trying out new occupations
• Time Bank – exchange of services
www.shiftonline.org

16. Core Values for Positive Aging
as stated by older adults!
• Self determination is central to civil and
human rights
• Self-sufficiency should be encouraged and
supported
• Seniors should be included and recognized
as a community resource
• Ageism is a pervasive form of bigotry that
must be addressed

17. Vital Communities
• Vital communities are places where people
of all ages and abilities are actively engaged
• Focusing on strengths – Recognizing
strengths and sharing strengths (assets)
• Supporting self-determination, community
participation, and high quality of life

18. Vital Communities Toolkit
found on the www.vital-aging-network.org website
• Meeting basic needs
– Housing, home services, nutrition, safety, health care,
financial security, support for caregiving, information
about services
• Encouraging community involvement:
– Navigating the community, transportation, meeting
places
• Promoting a high quality of life:
– Exercise, education, creative arts, social/economic
vitality

19. Next steps for Networking
with Hively and Allan:
• European Voices for Active Aging –
Conversations in six European Union
countries about engaging older adults
• Innovations Toolbox: Guides for
replicating community-based projects that
support positive aging – translated from the
U.S. to European countries
Next? Description from Moira Allan

20. Jan Hively
(Janet M Hively, PhD)
HIVEL001@umn.edu
Meaningful work, paid or unpaid,
through the last breath…