Narratives Of Positive Aging

Narratives on Positive Aging: Recipes for Success highlights the true stories and enhanced writing of diverse contributors on subjects related to positive aging. Organized thematically, the various chapters address topics such as family life, storytelling, the influence of money and career, sexual identity, politics, and more, and the part these play in lives that continue to be well-lived as people age. Each chapter includes an original introduction to the chapter's theme, which places the stories in context. A series of essays and brief memoirs on multiple themes, and reflections for educators, written by educators, enable instructors to use the book most effectively in their courses. Each chapter ends with concluding thoughts and discussion questions for use in class or as writing prompts. The organization and subject matter of the book are appropriate for both undergraduate and graduate students in gerontology. Narratives on Positive Aging is designed to serve equally well as a supplemental reader to primary texts on issues in gerontology, or as a unique stand-alone textbook. The story-telling narrative also makes the book of interest to lay readers in community groups or retreat settings.

In Narratives of Positive Aging, Amia Lieblich presents a qualitative study that explores the life narratives of elderly men and women who engage in practices of "positive aging." They belong to a spontaneous community that assembles daily, early in the morning, on a beach near Tel-Aviv, Israel. At the seaside, the elders practice various outdoor sports, and converse over coffee at the local café. Based on their narratives, procured by individual open-ended interviews, and the author's participant observation, the book explores the impact of routine, physical activity, and social relationships on successful aging. Lieblich additionally presents an analysis of the tension-minimizing discourse adopted at the café and the pleasant bubble-like environment it fosters amongst the community members. Finally, the book debates the adaptive role of narrating one's life story, and its perceived manifestation of wisdom. A combination of complete life stories and extracts of conversations recorded on the beach color every chapter. These texts are complimented and elucidated by a variety of academic claims, theories and findings concerning narratives and aging. This book, based on an Israeli field study, may be viewed both as a local case study as well as a lesson relevant to aging everywhere.

Narratives on Positive Aging: Recipes for Success highlights the true stories and enhanced writing of diverse contributors on subjects related to positive aging. Organized thematically, the various chapters address topics such as family life, storytelling, the influence of money and career, sexual identity, politics, and more, and the part these play in lives that continue to be well-lived as people age. Each chapter includes an original introduction to the chapter's theme, which places the stories in context. A series of essays and brief memoirs on multiple themes, and reflections for educators, written by educators, enable instructors to use the book most effectively in their courses. Each chapter ends with concluding thoughts and discussion questions for use in class or as writing prompts. The organization and subject matter of the book are appropriate for both undergraduate and graduate students in gerontology. Narratives on Positive Aging is designed to serve equally well as a supplemental reader to primary texts on issues in gerontology, or as a unique stand-alone textbook. The story-telling narrative also makes the book of interest to lay readers in community groups or retreat settings.

A community of elders who meet daily and spontaneously at the seaside exemplify the idea of positive aging. Through their individual life narratives, this book explores the impact of routine, physical exercise, and social relationships on the well-being of these seniors, and portrays the safe environment fostered by their discourse and wisdom.

A community of elders who meet daily and spontaneously at the seaside exemplify the idea of positive aging. Through their individual life narratives, this book explores the impact of routine, physical exercise, and social relationships on the well-being of these seniors, and portrays the safe environment fostered by their discourse and wisdom.

As our global demographic shifts towards an increasingly aging population, we have an opportunity to transform how we experience and think about getting older and embrace the diversity and contribution that this population can bring to society. The International Handbook of Positive Aging showcases the latest research and theory into aging, examining the various challenges faced by older adults and the ways in which we can bring a much-needed positive focus towards dealing with these. The handbook brings together disparate research from medical, academic, economic and social community fields, with contributions from NHS partners, service users, universities across the United Kingdom and collaborations with international research leaders in the field of aging. Divided into sections, the first part of the book focuses on introducing the concept of positive aging before going on to cover the body over the life course, well-being and care delivery. All contributors recognise the fact that we are living longer, which is providing us with a tremendous opportunity to enjoy and flourish in healthy and fulfilling later lives, and this focus on the importance of patient empowerment is integral to the book. This is a valuable reference source for those working in developmental psychology, clinical psychology, mental health, health sciences, medicine, neuropsychological rehabilitation, sociology, anthropology, social policy and social work. It will help encourage researchers, professionals and policymakers to make the most of opportunities and innovations to promote a person’s sense of independence, dignity, well-being, good health and participation in society as they get older.

In its brief but vigorous history, gerontology has spawned a broadening range of specializations. One of the newest of such specializations is narrative gerontology, so named for its emphasis on the biographical, or inside, dimensions of the experience of aging. Telling stories about our world, our relationships, and ourselves is fundamental to how we make meaning. Everything from our history to our religion and our memories to our emotions is linked to the tales we tell ourselves, and others, about where we have come from and where we are going. They are central to who we are. The biographical side of human life is every bit as critical to fathom as the biological side, if we seek a more balanced, positive, and optimistic perspective on what aging is about; if we would honor the dignity and complexity, the humanity and uniqueness of the lives of older persons, no matter what their health or economic standing. In this respect, a narrative approach is particularly suited to the exploration of such topics as meaning, spirituality, and wisdom, and the connections they share. This volume reflects a selection of new directions and insights, and constitutes a general broadening and deepening of narrative gerontology, exploring its implications for theory and research in the field of aging, and for the quality of life of older adults themselves. Such deepening indicates a greater refinement of thought, method, and intervention. The evolution of narrative gerontology is also evidenced by a significant increase in the number of faculty and graduate students engaged in research in this area, as well as by increasing collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and administrators in applying narrative insights to contexts such as long term care - indeed, healthcare in general. These initiatives have given rise to the phrase, "narrative care as core care".

The challenge of life and literary narrative is the central and perennial mystery of how people encounter, manage, and inhabit a self and a world of their own - and others' - creations. With a nod to the eminent scholar and psychologist Jerome Bruner, Life and Narrative: The Risks and Responsibilities of Storying Experience explores the circulation of meaning between experience and the recounting of that experience to others. A variety of arguments center around the kind of relationship life and narrative share with one another. In this volume, rather than choosing to argue that this relationship is either continuous or discontinuous, editors Brian Schiff, A. Elizabeth McKim, and Sylvie Patron and their contributing authors reject the simple binary and masterfully incorporate a more nuanced approach that has more descriptive appeal and theoretical traction for readers. Exploring such diverse and fascinating topics as 'Narrative and the Law,' 'Narrative Fiction, the Short Story, and Life,' 'The Body as Biography,' and 'The Politics of Memory,' Life and Narrative features important research and perspectives from both up-and-coming researchers and prominent scholars in the field - many of which who are widely acknowledged for moving the needle forward on the study of narrative in their respective disciplines and beyond.