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Without a great fanfare Dame Joan Bakewell has celebrated her 80th birthday. She has been a mainstay of the brodcast world since the 1960s and shows no sign of taking it easy now. It is a long way from the BBC’s ‘That Was The Week That Was‘ programme with David Frost, to Sky Arts 2013 portraiture competition, capturing the essence of Hilary Mantel. The Guardian newspaper has a modest editorial on that subject, which I found interesting.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/16/in-praise-joan-bakewell-editorialI was thinking of the impact of people living longer and enjoying good health when I came across some research from Age UK, the chariy for older people, concerning ‘Improving Later Life’. Apparently one of the key issues for those in their mid to late 80s is continuing to have social interaction, to counter the trend to loneliness and isolation which might other wise set in.
Both of these points are important. Remaining active and engaged with the world, whilst combatting isolation, help individuals sustain their health, well-being and confidence. There is also a tremendous opportunity for self-discovery as there is more time in which people can indulge in some life long learning and further spiritual growth. That’s a win for older people, their families and the community at large.
Experience Your Life 