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'The third age as a challenge '

'The third age as a challenge '. Guido Cuyvers PRO ACTE Antwerp 19 March 2013. Overview. Een casus. Part 1 Ageing is a chance Part 2 Active ageing Part 3 Appreciative inquiry approach Part 4 Group work. 0bjectives.

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'The third age as a challenge '

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  1. 'The thirdage as a challenge' Guido Cuyvers PRO ACTE Antwerp 19 March 2013

  2. Overview Een casus • Part 1 Ageing is a chance • Part 2 Active ageing • Part 3 Appreciativeinquiryapproach • Part 4 Group work

  3. 0bjectives • A criticalvisionon the place of the elderly in society. • A background forinitiatives to bringtogetheryoungsters and the elderly. • A new approach of the elderly

  4. Imagine….. • No age limits • You do not need to retire • 'Old' does not exist • Age is not a source of distinction • Young people and older people together • …. Whatcouldthenbecomepossible, • ……. • ……….

  5. But … • People must leave • There is distinction and discrimination • There is little collaboration • There are stereotypes: "Old is out" "Old is wrong" "Growing old is losing" "Older people living at the expense of other generations”

  6. That is a problem, because … • Older people behave according to stereotypes • They withdraw • They surrender to care • Let others determine much for them • Elderly distance themselves from old : denial • Society treats the elderly according to the clichés • Reduction of intergenerational encounter • Monetizing of solidarity • Social exclusion

  7. … and is wrong ! - “The miserymyth” Laura Carstensen the myth: “older people are lonely, depressed and down..” • indivual level • Isolation, poor, unhappy, waitingfordeath, poorcompetences, … • societal level • No influence, nopartipation, thesholdsfor contact, … "Older people are not only happier than we think, they also have an enormous amount to contribute to society"

  8. Findings • In terms of emotions: the best yearscomelater in life! • Mental health increases with age ( except dementia) • Explanation “socio-emotional selectivity” • - older people can better deal with negative emotions • - more attention to enjoy the time that is left • - engaged in fewer goals - in people who are important • - new way of evaluating what is worth the attention, the effort, the time • - tendency to focus on the positive and to give less attention to the negative • - richer and more complex feelings • - more satisfied with relationships, marriage • The miserymyth is a dangerousmyth - Notreality! Hard to beat

  9. Therefore ….. • A paradigm shift needed • deficit thinking: "Ageing is problem“ • Problem solving thinking • Loss of energy • appreciative approach: “Ageing is a chance” • Strength based approach • Happiness increases with age • Older people have talents that are important to society • Affects the whole of society • Gives energy

  10. “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it. We must learn to see the world anew.” (Albert Einstein) "That which you focus, becomes reality”

  11. Ageing is a chance 1.1 The ownresponsibility of the elderly • Positivity • Resilience • Beingactive and takinginitiative • Health is a verb • Responsbility 1.2 The responsibility of the others • The community • Civil society organisations • Authorities

  12. 1 Ownresponsibility A STRENGTH BASED APPROACH 1 Positivity(pride, happiness, joy, gratitude, serenity, hope, admiration, love, …) - positivityfeelsgood - positiviteitchanges the wayyourbrainsworks - positiviteittransformsyourfuture - positiviteitinhibitsnegativity, Broaden & buildtheory ( B Frederickson) 2 Resilience • Support • Meaning • Eigenvalue • Social skills

  13. 3 Active and takinginitiatives • Europa: “Active Ageing” ““Growing old in good health and as a full member of society, feeling more fulfilled in our jobs, more independent in our daily lives and more involved as citizens.” • Talents in contrast to deterioratingpotentials • Developing a network of relationships • Lifelonglearning • Diverse activities of selfdevelopment 4 Health is a verb • Strengthenhealth in anactiveway - lifestyle • Salutogenesis: more thanprevention - notonlycure

  14. 5 Responsibility • To othergenerations • Intergenerationalsolidarity • Sharingcapital (social – psychological– economic) • To otherelderly • Intragenerationalsolidarity – volunteering • To society • Active citizenship: participate in and take responsibility for the public good citizens that develop skills to be able to take and bear that responsibility and it requires institutions which invite, support and equip their citizens

  15. 2 REPONSIBILITY OF THE OTHERS 2.1 ROLE OF the community Assetbasedapproach Goal: Social inclusion of everyone A communitywhich: • Engages the strengths and talents of the elderly • Passion, wisdom, experience, expertise • Which promotes networking between people • Useswhatworkswell • Empowerspeople and gives controle to the people • Allowing the elderly to take up sociallyvaluedroles • With a new kind of leadership: builds up connections and strengthenrelationships

  16. 2.2 Civil society organisations • Promotes the strenghts of people • Bringspeopletogether • Link withauthorities • Without treshholds

  17. 2.3 Authorities • A policy buildon a constructivevisionon the role of the elderly • Promoteactivecitizenshipbyinviting, supporting and equipping the citizens to takeresponsibility • Put available public space as placesformeeting of generations • Expanding the scope from care to coaching • MeasuresforAnti-discrimination – and againstexclusion • (Exclusion is anactiveprocess) • Fostering and supportingvolunteering

  18. Conclusion: A shared responsibility • Ownreponsibility of the elderly • Role of everyagegroup – also of youngsters • Role of civil society: assetoriented approach • Government : policy with a positive focus “Optimism is a moralduty” KarlPopper

  19. “We face one of the greatest opportunities in the history of mankind. We have more time to chase our dreams, to be productive, to be with our families. We just need to address the societal challenges of ageing. If we succeed in this, we can improve the quality of life at all ages. That's why I am so excited. If we solve this, we get a better society than ever before.” Laura Carstensen

  20. Part 2 Active Ageing Part 2 Active Ageing

  21. Aims of 2012 • raising awareness on the contribution that older people make to society and the important part that young people play for a holistic society; • identifying and disseminating good practices; • mobilising policymakers and relevant stakeholders at all levels to promote active ageing; • calling for greater cooperation and solidarity between generations.

  22. What is activeageing? • Active ageing means: “growing old in good health and as a full member of society, feeling more fulfilled in our jobs, more independent in our daily lives and more involved as citizens.” • WHO: the process of optimizingopportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age

  23. The mainchallenges • Tacklingearlyretirement • Combating the isolation of older people through active participation • Tackling ill health in older ages

  24. 1 Employment 1.1 Promote employment for older workers 1.2 Promote work-life balancepolicies 1.3 Combat age discrimination and multiple discrimination

  25. 2 Intergenerationalsolidarity “The mutual support and cooperation between different age groups in order to achieve a society where people of all ages have a role to play in line with their needs and capacities, and can benefit from their community’s economic and social progress onanequal basis.“ 2.1 Combat social exclusion 2.2 Promotecivildialogue 2.3 Fostersolidaritybetweengenerations 2.4 Improveaccessibility 2.5 Combatpoverty

  26. 3 Healthyoldage • 3.1 Invest in healthylifestyles • 3.2 Combathealthinequalities • 3.3 Promote the protection of older people’s rights and dignity • 3.4 Promote independent living

  27. 4 Critics • A neo-liberalapproach? To much stress on the individual – to less engagement of society? • …

  28. Part 3 AppreciativeInquiry

  29. Deficit Focus: Consequences • Fragmentation • Few new images of possibility • Negative frames are self-fulfilling • Visionless voice leads to fatigue • ‘The Experts Must Know’ • Weakened fabric of relationships & defensivenessleads to negative culture • Slow: puts attention on yesterday’s causes

  30. Now: appreciativeapproach David Cooperrider – Case Western University Cleveland • “A Positive Approach to Building Cooperative Capacity” • Happinessgrowswithage • Talentsthatcanfostersociety • Needforrelationalpractices

  31. PROBLEM ANALYTIC CHANGE VS. APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY Problem solving (deficit based change) Appreciative inquiry (strength based innovation) Basic Assumptions What we focus on becomes our reality “Felt Need” Identify problem Valuing the best of what is” Appreciate Reality is created in the moment, and there are multiple realities Dialogue and design (What should be) Conduct root cause analysis In every ongoing team/group/ organisation . . . some-thing(s) work Analyze Possible Solutions Imagine (What might be) People have more confidence and comfort to journey to the future (the unknown) when they carry forward parts of the past (the known) Create (What will be) Develop action plan (Treatment) Basic assumption: “mystery” organization is a web of strengths linked to infinite capacity, infinite imagination… alive The mode and language of inquiry effects the org. being observed Basic assumption: “problem-to-be solved”

  32. Principles of “AI” • Constructionist: We live in worlds our questions create. Knowledge and org destiny are interwoven. We see the world we describe. • Simultaneity: Change begins at the moment you ask the first question. • Anticipatory: Deep change occurs first in our images of the future • Positive: The more positive the question, the greater and longer-lasting the change.

  33. The “4-D Cycle” Discover “What gives life?” (The best of what is) Appreciating Dream “What might be?” (What is the world calling for) Envisioning Results Deliver “How to empower, learn, and adjust/improvise?” Sustaining Affirmative Topic Choice Design “What should be - the ideal?” Co-constructing

  34. Part 4 Group work • Develop a method of empowerment to stimulate the active ageing in the organisation you work for • Develop some solidarity supporting and building measures • How can A.I. be an extra value in the organisation you work for? Reflect on that. • How can A.I. be an extra value to give new or better answers on the challenge? • How A.I. canbean extra value to become a better professional? Selfreflection. • What are the challenges of activeageingfor the younggeneration?

  35. Appendix: Background: our view on humanity and society • Reciprocity - shared world – connectedness • Resilience • Interdependency: Relationship - community modelwelfare • Shared power • Dialogue-Based • Action-oriented: mature as an actor • Empowerment • Presence • Open to Vulnerability • Positive freedom

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