Reflections On Old Age

'The View in Winter' is a timeless and moving study of the perplexities of living to a great age, as related by a wide range of men and women: miners, villagers, doctors, teachers, craftsmen, soldiers, priests, the widowed and long-retired. Their voices are set in the context of what literature, art, religion and medicine over the centuries have said about ageing. The result is an acclaimed and compelling reflection on an inevitable aspect of our human experience.

The English writer E. M. Forster described old age as "a seductive combination of increased wisdom and decaying powers to which too little intelligence is devoted." This book is a response to that criticism. It explains how old age has been considered throughout the ages by philosophers, poets, and other literary figures, and explores how the extraordinary increase of life expectancy that began in the last century has be sustained by science and medicine. Unfortunately the general public still prefers to keep the elderly out of sight and, especially, out of mind. To overcome this marginalization I call for the emergence of a more inclusive humanism--one that is welcoming to persons of all ages. To overcome the pervasive isolation of the elderly requires a new dialogue across all the living generations. Echoing the sentiments of Cicero in his classic study of old age, I also call for a reflective maturity to develop among the elderly, one that reaches deeply into themselves and increases their understanding of the world around them. Spiritual maturity demands growth in virtue and charity in the advance of years. A reaching out to all in the pursuit of justice and the common good is strongly recommended. The book concludes with some reflections upon hopes for personal immortality as well as the qualities of divine justice and mercy.

In What Does It Mean to Grow Old? essayists come to grips as best they can with the phenomenon of an America that is about to become the Old Country. They have been drawn from every relevant discipline--gerontology, social medicine, politics, health, anthropology, ethics, law--and asked to speak their mind. Most of them write extremely well [and their] sharply individual voices are heard.

'Incredibly wise, comforting and beautiful' - Joanna Lumley It is never too soon to start thinking about old age. In Let Evening Come, Mary C. Morrison, herself eighty-seven at the time of first publication, considers the gains and losses of the ageing process in all their depth and richness. She writes about old age from her own personal experience, describing without sentimentality or despair how it actually feels to grow old, to be old, to look back over life, to look forward to death. In a series of meditative passages and journal entries she presents old age as a time that calls for gallantry and courage, but one that also offers unique opportunities for inner growth and wisdom. Let Evening Come is a remarkable book; simply but elegantly written, it is both moving and uplifting. It is not only for those standing on the edge of old age, it is for people of all ages, and once read will be recommended to others for the very special pleasures found within its pages.

The Time of Your Later Life is a guide to help older people explore new possibilities and write new life narratives in the process of growing older. It is an interpretation of some of the key events of the year seen through the eyes of a middle-ager who happens to work as a psychiatrist for older people and who actively aspires to be a thriving older person. The book reminisces, recalls, reinterprets and explores the themes and circumstances of the year based on a journey through the seasons. It consists of 52 essays (one for each week of the year) exploring: ThemesFestivalsRitualsOpportunities With observations and wry perceptions challenging the reader to do more and get more out of life. The intended audience for this book is the 16 per cent of the Irish population aged 65 and older, but also middle-agers approaching this age category, as well as friends, family members and supporters of older people irrespective of age – in other words, all of us.

"Somewhere in the middle of my seventies, I realised that I liked being old." So begins this set of engaging stories and thoughts on growing older by someone with a vast range of life experience to share. Part memoir and part reflection on the joys and challenges of modern life, this book explores the nature of old age and how it compares to what came before. The author argues that being older does not have to be feared. Even better, it can be fun. This kaleidoscopic book offers a refreshing - and often funny - look at a wide range of issues, Including the personal awkwardness of a loss of memory, a new take on the nature of ambition, and sex at the age of 90. It challenges head on many of the prevalent myths and taboos surrounding old age. You may never look at old age in the same way again.