Successful and Healthy Ageing Among Australian Men

Chapter 8: Successful and Healthy Ageing Among Australian Men: Winning and Losing 

Description:

The social-psychological indicators of involvement, satisfaction, autonomy, integration and creativity will be discussed in this chapter. It will be argued that successful ageing is the broader concept, so healthy ageing will be presented as a subset of successful ageing. However, the impact of the relationship between social-psychological and mental-physical wellbeing varies considerably among individuals. This chapter will examine four themes:

• Who are older Australian men?
• What gender variations are there in ageing?
• Who is winning and losing in the quest to achieve the indicators of successful ageing?
• What are the implications for health and community professionals?

Topics:

• Introduction
• Identifying older Australian men
• Gender variations
  • Socialising and societal attitudes
  • Social interaction
  • Biological variations
  • Work-leisure transition
• The indications of successful and healthy ageing: winning and losing
  • Successful ageing- indicators
    • Security
    • Involvement
    • Satisfaction
    • Autonomy
    • Integration
    • Creativity
  • Variations in achieving the indicators of successful ageing
  • Danger signals approaching retirement
  • Strategies that people use to compensate for a loss of activities and interactions
  • Forms of social loss
  • Suggestions for ways in which men might age successfully
• Implications for health and community care professionals
  • Awareness of social/health need patterns
  • The emerging wave
• Conclusion
• A successful Ageing Vision Plan for men
• Bibliography
• Personal communication

Authors:

Leon Earle
Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Diploma of Teaching (Primary), Diploma of Speech and Drama, Master of Education, Doctor of Philosophy (Monash University) Adjunct Associate Professor, Northern Territory University; Director, Earle Consultancy Services (Australia) and Earle Consultancy Services (Northern Territory)

As a gerontologist, Dr Leon Earle is highly respected both locally and internationally. He has provided policy advice to governments around the world and received awards for his programs, scholarship and professional addresses. Dr Earle has been responsible for the preservice, inservice and professional development training of thousands of people in the aged and human service fields in his role as a consultant, visiting international scholar and a member of the professional staff at both the University of South Australia and the Northern Territory University. Dr Earle was commissioned by the Minister of Ageing in South Australia to chair South Australia's Ten Year Plan on Aged Care Services and by the Minister of Health in the Northern Territory to prepare the Territory's Successful Ageing Vision Paper.

Richard Earle
Bachelor of Arts Media and Public Relations Coordinator, Earle Consultancy Services (Australia)

Richard Earle is a Bachelor of Arts graduate of the University of South Australia where he majored in media studies and community development (social policy) and completed a specialisation in communications. He has served as a university student president, branch director, activities officer, recreation officer, Media Relations Research Officer for Australia's National Seniors Association and a public relations coordinator in private and government sectors.

Tony Earle
Bachelor of Education, Diploma of Teaching, Master of Education, Master of Psychology Consultant, Earle Consultancy Services (Australia)

Tony Earle holds masters degrees in sociology (social psychology) and education (curriculum management) from the University of Missouri — Columbia, together with a Bachelor of Education and a Diploma of Teaching. His knowledge, speaking expertise and exceptional analytical skills have been sought locally and overseas by professional associations. His experiences include employment as a teacher, deputy principal and principal in schools and as a university lecturer.

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