Growing older has both joys and challenges, like every other life stage. As people age, they become free to engage in social and service actives that work and family demands did not permit earlier in life. This presentation describes vital involvement and wisdom in old age. As Cicero said more than 2000 years ago," If virtues are cultivated at every period of life, these produce wonderful fruits when you reach old age."

1. Living Well
into Older Age
Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW
Professor, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Deacon Intern, Trinity Episcopal Church
Excelsior, Minnesota, USA,
February 14, 2015

2. Topics
Vital Involvement
8th Stage of Development
Wisdom in Old Age
Transcendance
Gerotranscendence

3. Vital Involvement
◦Meaningful engagement with
 the outside world and
our spirituality however we
define it and experience it

4. Connie Reeves (1902-2003)

5. Vital Involvement
Over the Life Course
If virtues are cultivated at every
period of life, these produce
wonderful fruits when you reach
old age. Cicero (106 BCE-43 BCE)

6. Discussion
 What words or ideas did you hear in
Brooks’ talk or the video on developmental
stages? In one sentence or less.
 What do these words or ideas mean to
you?
 What are these words or ideas calling you
to do?
 If you have time, please discuss.

7. 8th Stage of Development
Integrity vs. Despair
Good Outcome: Wisdom

8. Wisdom in Old Age
 integrating maturing forms of virtues
such as hope, purpose, competence,
fidelity, love, and care
 detached concern with life itself, in the
face of decline and death.
 maintains and conveys the integrity of
experience
 in spite of the decline of bodily and
sometimes the mental functions

9. The 9th Stage: Transcendance
 May happen when we experience frailty
 a major leap above and beyond the fear
of death
 to rise above, exceed, outdo, go beyond,
independent of the universe and time. It
involves surpassing all human
knowledge and experience
Erikson, Erik H.; Erikson, Joan M. (1998-06-17). The Life Cycle Completed (Extended Version) (p. 127). W.
W. Norton & Company. Kindle Edition.

10. Gerotranscendence
 a shift in perspective
◦ from a materialistic and rational vision to
a
◦ more cosmic and transcendent one,
◦ normally followed by an increase in life
satisfaction and peace of mind
 a new feeling of cosmic communion
with the spirit of the universe

11. Discussion
 Take Turns
 tell a story about yourself as
growing older and being vitally
involved
 talk about an older person in your
life who showed vital involvement
in old age
◦ could be a parent, grandparent,
other relative, someone you knew or

12. Wisdom & Mystery
 To hold the full mystery of life is
always to endure its other half, which
is the equal mystery of death and
doubt.
 Wisdom happily lives with mystery,
doubt, and “unknowing,”
Rohr, Richard (2011-02-11). Falling Upward: A
Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life (p. 112). Wiley.
Kindle Edition.