COMPREHENSION: WHAT IS ACTIVE AGEING?

Active ageing is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in
order to enhance quality of life as people age. It applies to both individuals and population
groups.
Active ageing allows people to realize their potential for physical, social, and mental well-being
throughout the life course and to participate in society, while providing them with adequate
protection, security and care when they need.
The word “active” refers to continuing participation in social, economic, cultural, spiritual and
civic affairs, not just the ability to be physically active or to participate in the labour force. Older
people who retire from work, ill or live with disabilities can remain active contributors to their
families, peers, communities and nations. Active ageing aims to extend healthy life expectancy
and quality of life for all people as they age.
“Health” refers to physical, mental and social wellbeing as expressed in the WHO definition of
health. Maintaining autonomy and independence for the older people is a key goal in the policy
framework for active ageing.
Ageing takes place within the context of friends, work associates, neighbours and family
members. This is why interdependence as well as intergenerational solidarity is important tenets
of active ageing.

Social participation and social support are strongly associated with good health and well-being
throughout life. Participating in leisure, social, cultural and spiritual activities in the community, as
well as with the family, allows older people to continue to exercise their competence, to enjoy
respect and esteem, and to maintain or establish supportive and caring relationships.

Specialised educational institutions like Silver College offer a great example of a place where senior
citizens can gain a fresh perspective and purpose after retirement. Set up by Kobe City, the College
offers many part-time courses around sports, arts, outdoor pursuits, and academic research.

In Happy Active Town we have an example of mobilization in an urban high-rise community. The
social catalyst sprang from deep concern over the solitary deaths of elderly neighbours alone in their
apartments. HAT is an important example of a socially charged aged friendly environment where
locals look out for each other. For an older person whose family support is not in the vicinity,
exposure and access to a friendly support network is crucial. Local citizens encourage each other to
come together for events at a central location or to visit others close by.

Mr. Yasujiro Yamaguchi is described as the perfect centenarian. A master weaver, the old man of
103 still sits at his loom and creates works of art. He attributes his health to luck, helped by staying
mental physically active. The Yamaguchi family, watching closely from the side-lines, provides him
supportive relationships. In turn, his children carry on his weaving legacy.

In 2002, a major study of ageing in the United Kingdom undertaken by Dr. Michael Marmot and his
colleagues revealed the following:

“Ask people about ageing in our society, and everyone has a view. Most would think it widely known
that older age is a time of declining mental and physical function, worse health, and economic and
social dependency. The elderly are a ‘problem’. Indeed, a small number of people over the age of 65
fit this stereotype. Most do not. What is striking about the health and social circumstances of older
people in society is how variable the picture is, ranging from this rather depressing stereotype to
that of vigorous octogenarians, economically and socially independent, with little disability, wide
social and cultural interests and much to contribute to society.”

In our fast ageing world, older people are increasingly playing a crucial role – through voluntary
work, transmitting experience and knowledge, helping their families with caring responsibilities or in
paid work. These contributions rely on older persons enjoying good health and societies addressing
their needs.

Active ageing is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order
to enhance quality of life as people age. It applies to both individuals and population groups.

Active ageing allows people to realize their potential for physical, social, and mental well-being
throughout the life course and to participate in society, while providing them with adequate
protection, security and care when they need it.

The word “active” refers to continuing participation in social, economic, cultural, spiritual and civic
affairs, not just the ability to be physically active or to participate in the labour force. Older people
who retire from work, even with some level of disability, can remain active contributors to their
families, peers, communities and nations. Active ageing aims to extend healthy life expectancy and
quality of life for all people as they age.

“Health” refers to physical, mental and social well-being as expressed in the WHO definition of
health. Maintaining autonomy and independence for the older people is a key goal in the policy
framework for active ageing.

At the same time, ageing takes place within the context of friends, work associates, neighbours and
family members. This is why interdependence and intergenerational solidarity are also important
tenets of active ageing.

The role of cities

While the world is ageing, it is also urbanizing. Over half of the global population is now urban,
meaning that older people are living in towns and cities. The proportion of the older adult
population residing in cities in developed countries matches that of younger age groups – about 80%
– and should continue to rise at the same pace. In low and middle income countries however, the
share of older people in urban communities is expected to multiply by 16 from about 56 million in
1998 to over 908 million in 2050. By that time, older people will comprise a quarter of the total
urban population in less developed countries

Why develop an age-friendly city?

Making cities age-friendly is one of the most effective policy approaches for responding to
demographic ageing. One of the reasons for focusing on cities is that major urban centres have the
economic and social resources to make changes to become more age-friendly and can thus lead the
way for other communities. An age-friendly community benefits people of all ages.
Source: WHO (2007). Global Age-friendly Cities: A guide.
What are the characteristics of an age-friendly city?

The main characteristics can be summarized as follows:

Participation
- Inclusive opportunities for civic, cultural, educational, and voluntary engagement (link to Silver City
College example)
- Accessible public and private transportation
- Barrier-free and enabling interior and exterior spaces
- Accessible and useful information
- Positive images of older persons

Health
- Activities, programs and information to promote health, social, and spiritual well-being
- Social support and outreach
- Accessible and appropriate health services
- Places and programs for active leisure and socializing
- Good air/water quality

Security and independence

- Appropriate, accessible, affordable housing
- Accessible home-safety designs and products
- Hazard-free streets and buildings
- Safe roadways and signage for drivers and pedestrians
- Safe, accessible and affordable public transportation
- Supports for caregivers
- Accessible stores, banks and professional services
- Supportive neighbourhoods
- Safety from abuse and criminal victimization
- Public information and appropriate training
- Emergency plans and disaster recovery
- Appropriate and accessible employment opportunities
- Flexible work practices

What can individuals do?

Probably the single most important health message for older persons is to achieve or maintain
moderate levels of physical activity. There are similarities between the deterioration that occurs
with ageing and that accompanying physical inactivity. Preventive measures to reduce diet-related
disease should begin early in life, but it is never too late to start, even in old age. Positive changes in
lifestyle are worthwhile at every age.

Creating Resilient and Age-Friendly Communities

Ideally, an age-friendly city can be achieved through good development policies. This involves the
local authorities putting in place policies that ensure that all new development projects include
measures to meet the needs of the elderly. As a result, over time cities evolve and better reflect the
needs of a growing elderly population.

However, there will also be instances when redevelopment is required on a major scale and this can
often be the result of a natural disaster. This was the experience of Kobe following the Great
Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.

The earthquake hit Kobe City on Tuesday January 17 1995 at 5:46 a.m. causing enormous damage.
The death toll from the earthquake was 6,437, with another 43,792 injured. Approximately 510,000
buildings were damaged or destroyed. The total economic loss resulting from the earthquake
amounted to 9,926.8 billion (almost 10 trillion) yen (around US$100 billion).

Many elderly and disabled living in traditional housing fell victim to the earthquake. As survivors
they had no choice but to move into public housing because they were unable to reconstruct their
houses. This presented a major challenge for the local authorities and as of March 2004 there were
16,000 disaster restoration housing units in Kobe City (of which 10,500 units were municipal
housing).

By April 2006, elderly households accounted for 48% of all households in this new accommodation,
with single elderly households accounting for 41.5%. According to survey results five years after the
earthquake (Ii, 2001), about 30% of the residents in the new communities said they had ‘no social
contact with their neighbours’, ‘no one to go to for advice’ and ‘no enjoyment.’ They went out only
‘to do some grocery shopping’ and ‘to visit the doctor.’

Another survey found that in a high-rise housing complex in Nagata Ward, seniors over 65 accounted
for 70.8% of residents. According to surveys conducted by Kobe University (Shiozaki 2002), the
percentage of respondents who said they had social contact with their neighbours dropped sharply
to one-fourth, from 50% before the earthquake to 30.3% at the time of moving into temporary
housing, and to 12.5% when moving into the permanent housing.

The number of kodokushi (solitary deaths) in disaster restoration public housing amounted to 251,
nine years after the earthquake, exceeding the 233 kodokushi in temporary housing. There were two
main characteristics. First, young elderly men (55-64) formed the largest subset of victims. Second,
alcohol-related problems were the main cause of death.

Experience from the Kobe earthquake reconstruction clearly illustrates, and as the story of Happy
Active Town also exemplifies, that rebuilding better is no simple process. One challenge is to rebuild
the infrastructure, services and accommodation. However, another equally important challenge is
how to rebuild community spirit and a sense of belonging. This takes considerably more time.
PRACTICE 1

Section C

[25 marks]

Questions 26 – 31 are based on the following passage.

1 One day, a young man was cleaning out his late grandfather’s belongings when
he came across a bright red envelope. Written on the front were the words, "To
my grandson”. Recognising his grandfather’s writing, the young man opened the
envelope. A letter inside read:
2 “Dear Grandson, years ago you came to me for help. You said, “Grandpa, 5
how is it that you’ve accomplished so much in your life and you’re still full of
energy I’m already tired of struggling. How can I get that same enthusiasm that
you’ve got?”
3 “I didn’t know what to say to you then as you were still too young to
comprehend the complexities of life. But knowing my days are numbered, I figure 10
that I owe you an answer. So here is what I believe. I think a lot of it has to do with
how a person looks at things. I call it ‘keeping your eyes wide open’.
4 First, realise that life is filled with surprises, some not so pleasant and
others quite shocking but many are good ones. If you don’t keep watching for
them, you’ll miss half the excitement. Expect to be thrilled once in a while, and 15
you will be. You attract what you think of the most in life.
5 When you meet up with challenges, welcome them. Do not bolt! They’ll
leave you wiser, stronger, and more capable than you were the day before. You’ll
be glad you dare to take the bull by its horns.
6 When you make a mistake, be grateful for the things it taught you. Failure 20
should not stop you from pursuing your dreams. No one is perfect. Resolve to use
that lesson to help you reach your goals,
7 And always follow the rules — even the little ones. When you follow the
rules, life works. If you think you ever really get by with breaking the rules, you’re
only fooling yourself. Remember crime does not pay and our past has a sneaky 25
way of creeping up to us.
8 It’s also important to decide exactly what you want. Then, keep your mind
focused on it, and be prepared to receive it. Being focused on a goal spurs us
towards the right direction by channelling our energy on what is actually important
so that we are not too overwhelmed by obstacles. 30
9 But be ready to end up in some new places too. Change is part of growing
up. As you grow with the years. you’ll be given bigger shoes to fill. So be ready for
endings as well as challenging beginnings. Life will not be so predictable. It can
also be fun too.
10 Sometimes we have to be brave enough to move from the familiar to the 35
unfamiliar. Life isn’t just reaching peaks. Part of it is moving from one peak to the
next. If you rest too long in between, you might be tempted to quit. Complacency
and contentment will set in. You will not desire to move on. You can become lazy
or indifferent.
11 Leave the past in the past. Climb the next mountain and enjoy the view. 40
Dump things that weigh you down emotionally and spiritually. When an old
resentment, belief or attitude becomes heavy, lighten your load. Shed those
hurtful attitudes that slow you down and drain your energy.
12 Remember that your choices will create your successes and your failures.
So consider all the pathways ahead, and decide which ones to follow. Then, 45
believe in yourself get up, and get going.
13 And be sure to take breaks once in a while. Everyone needs to recharge
their batteries. They’ll give you a renewed commitment to your dreams, and a
cheerful, healthy perception of the things that matter the most to you. Your vision
will be sharper and your goals clearer. 50
14 “Most important of all, never give up on yourself. The person that ends up
a winner, is the one who resolves to win. Losers quit too early in the race. Give life
everything you’ve got, and life will give its best back to you.”
Love always, Grandpa.
by Steve Brunkhorst

26 (a) From paragraph 1, why did the young man open the letter in the bright red envelope?
_____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]

(b) From paragraph 2, what inspired the grandfather to write this letter?
_____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]

27 (a) From paragraph 3, what does the phrase ‘keeping your eyes wide open’ mean?
_____________________________________________________________ [1 mark]

(b) From paragraph 4,what are some of the surprises in life if we keep our eyes open?
_____________________________________________________________________
( 1 mark )

28 (a) From paragraph 5, how should the young man face challenges in life?
_______________________________________________________________________
( 1 mark )

(b) From paragraph 7, what was the grandfather’s advice with regards to rules?
_______________________________________________________________________
( 1 mark )

29 (b) From paragraph 9, explain the phrase ‘you’ll be given bigger shoes to fill.’
______________________________________________________________________
( 1 mark )

(b) From paragraph 14, how can life give its best back to us?
______________________________________________________________________
( 1 mark )

30 Do you think it is important not to be a quitter in the race of life? Why?

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
( 2 marks )

31 Based on the passage given, write a summary on:

 the lessons of life given by the grandfather to his grandson.

Credit will be given for use of own words but care must be taken not to change the original
meaning.

Your summary must

 be in continuous writing form (not in note from)
 use materials from lines 11 to 53
 not be longer than 130 words, including the 10 words given below

Begin your summary as follows:

I believe that it has a lot to do with ………………………………………………………..

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Vocabulary Practice

For each of the meaning of the words used in the article, find the word which matches the
meaning.

1 (Line 7) great eagerness to do something - …………………….

2 (Line 10) limited - …………………………………

3 (Line 15) a state in which you are very interested and enthusiastic about
something - …………….

4 (Line 25) deceiving - …………………….

5 (Line 28) concentrated - ………………………..

6 (Line 36) highest point of achievement - ……………………

7 (Line 42) a feeling of betterment and anger - ……………………………..

8 (Line 43) make someone tired - ………………………….

9 (Line 48) made a new start - …………………………..

10 (Line 49) outlook - …………………….

Editing

SUMMARY WORKSHEET (Student copy)

31 Based on the passage given, write a summary on:

  the lessons of life given by the grandfather to his grandson.

Begin your summary as follows:

I believe that it has a lot to do with ………………………………………………………..

1. I think a lot of it has to do with how a person looks at things

2. First, realise that life is filled with surprises, some not so pleasant and others quite

shocking but many are good ones. If you don’t keep watching for them, you’ll miss half the

excitement. Expect to be thrilled once in a while, and you will be.

3. When you meet up with challenges, welcome them. Do not bolt! They’ll leave you wiser,

stronger, and more capable than you were the day before.

4. When you make a mistake, be grateful for the things it taught you. Failure should not stop

you from pursuing your dreams. No one is perfect. Resolve to use that lesson to help you

reach your goals,

5. And always follow the rules — even the little ones. When you follow the rules, life works.

6. It’s also important to decide exactly what you want. Then, keep your mind focused on it,

and be prepared to receive it.

7. So be ready for endings as well as challenging beginnings.

8. Life will not be so predictable. It can also be fun too. Life isn’t just reaching peaks.

9. Leave the past in the past.

10. Remember that your choices will create your successes and your failures.

11. And be sure to take breaks once in a while. Everyone needs to recharge their batteries.
They’ll give you a renewed commitment to your dreams, and a cheerful, healthy perception

of the things that matter the most to you.

12. “Most important of all, never give up on yourself.