Reflections on Aging: A Self-Study and Writing

Study Group Leader: Rhoada Wald

Texts :

New Pathways for Aging. Editors, Peg Senturia, Stan Davis, Hy Kempler, Prudence King, Rhoada Wald, HILR, 2009.

My Twice Lived Life—A Memoir by Donald M. Murray, New York, Ballantine Books, 2001

Study Group Description

This self-study will begin with two major questions:

What does an examination of personal transitions at this stage of life reveal? What part has HILR and other institutional supports played for you in managing these transitions?

Our goal is to write personal narratives about defining moments at our stage of life. We hope to integrate various ideas about aging including: why we retired, the personal significance of HILR, and our search for meaning and purpose. In addition to sharing our personal essays, we will explore five themes: identity, the culture of aging, leading and learning, community, and living with mortality. Other themes, such as loss or redefining relationships may evolve from our self-reflection.

Participation requires weekly reading, writing and sharing of personal narratives and reports on the themes discussed.

Syllabus

Each session will include a discussion of that week’s theme plus sharing and critiquing individual narratives. The themes will follow the chapters in thecentral text, New Pathways for Aging.

Session 1: Change and the Life Cycle

Reading: Identity

Session 2: Transitions: What is the Experience of Being Retired?

Reading: The Culture of Aging

Session 3 Intellectual Explorations and a Search for Meaning

Reading: Leading and Learning

Session 4: The Role of Community

Reading: Community

Session 5: Issues Related to Illness and Mortality

Reading: Living With Mortality

Session 6: Reflection and Evaluation: Where do you go next?

Bibliography

Cohen, Gene D. The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain. New York: Basic Books, 2005. This book presents a new paradigm of aging that reframes the later stages of life as a set of developmental phases the promotes growth and change. Several chapters were used for handouts.

Didion, Joan. The Year of Magical Thinking. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004.

A personal and brilliant portrait of the year after the death of her husband, John Dunne..

Freudenheim, Ellen. Looking Forward: An Optimist’s Guide to Retirement. New York: Stewart, Tabori, & Chang, 2004. A pragmatic approach to retirement.

Rowe, John W., M.D., and Robert L. Kahn. Ph.D. Successful Aging. New York: Dell Publishing Co., 1998. The authors describe the objectives, methods and results of the Macarthur Foundation study of aging in America.

Terkel, Studs. Coming of Age: The Story of Our Century by Those Who’ve Lived It.

New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 1995. Verbatim interviews focusing on aging, identity, work, social justice, etc.

Thayer Jane, and Peggy Thayer. Elderescence: The Gift of Longevity, New York: Hamilton Books.

Weiss, Robert S. The Experience of Retirement. Ithaca, New York, Cornell University Press. 2005. An examination of the transition from career to retirement. Included are verbatim quotes from people at this stage.

Sarton, May.

These journals by May Sarton have titles that reflect her focus.

Journal of Solitude. 1973.

At Seventy: A Journal. 1983.

After The Stroke: A Journal. 1988

Eighty Two: A Journal. 1996.