American Author, Robert Byrne wrote, “The purpose of life, is a life with purpose.” Creating and sustaining a positive and satisfying life starts with just that. With purpose comes motivation to wake up, exercise, socialize, and strive for a better tomorrow. For many, purpose is found in their careers, taking care of their family, investing in a hobby, or creating meaningful connections with new or old friendships.
Nurturing a sense of purpose is just as important for seniors, and by maintaining this, they will be more mentally and physically engaged and excited to see what is yet to come.
What is a ‘Sense of Purpose?’
“A sense of purpose is viewed as a central component of well-being and refers to the extent that people see their lives as having meaning, a sense of direction, and goals (National Library of Medicine, Kim, Shiba, Boehm, and Kubzansky).”
Seniors are no exception to this feeling, and due to their age and changing abilities, they can have the hardest time finding this fulfillment. There is psychological value in doing activities that make someone feel accomplished, proud, and sometimes nostalgic, bringing back memories that make them happy to remember. “More recent definitions of purpose have also included the extent to which individuals consider their life activities to be valuable and important (Wiley Online Library, Boreham & Schutte).”
The Positives of Having a Purpose:
Activities that engage the senior population will increase their mental longevity; This could include working on a project, volunteering, or having meaningful conversations. Research suggests that having this sense of resolve or determination strongly links to improved mental health, greater coping with chronic illnesses/diseases and disability, and even less cognitive decline through aging – All of which directly effects seniors (Wiley Online Library, Boreham & Schutte).
Having a sense of purpose is not only emotionally enriching, but it also has been shown to positively impact a senior’s physical well-being too. The National Library of Medicine explains, “Several studies have observed that a higher sense of purpose is associated with more physical activity, healthier sleep, higher consumption of fruits and vegetables, increased use of preventive healthcare services, enhanced sleep quality, and possibly less smoking (National Library of Medicine, Kim, Shiba, Boehm, and Kubzansky).”
How Seniors Can Find Their Purpose:
Learning something new or embracing an old hobby has no age limit; older adults and seniors are encouraged to continue to try new activities while understanding the idea of evolving; trying something a different way, more adapted and tailored to their current abilities.
“For most people, their direction or purpose in life will change and evolve through various stages of their lives. Similar to the concept of happiness, purpose is not a specific destination, but a journey and a process (American Psychiatric Association).”
When an activity is set up intentionally for a certain person to succeed, they will walk away feeling proud and excited, and this can build their self-confidence.
When finding a sense of purpose, seniors, their family, friends, and caregivers can be creative. Everyone likes to feel needed, and everyone likes something; the challenge is finding a good way to incorporate it into their life based on where they are at. See some examples below of an activity or value that a senior may have had earlier in their life → then how they can incorporate that same interest within the life chapter they’re in:
Loved raising children → Volunteer at a local school and read to children
Enjoyed working with animals → Walk through the local dog park or visit an animal shelter
Looked forward to socializing with business partners → Join a senior social group
WSL understands that each person’s purpose is different from the next. We maintain our person center approach to reflect this in residents’ lives each day. Activities are created based on current residents, their abilities, interests, and motivations. Classes are structured in a way that ensures every person is leaving the program feeling successful. We meet residents where they are at, and keep them engaged with a sense of purpose top of mind.