BEING happy as you grow older could mean that you are creating your very own “Blue Zone” at home. The “Blue Zone” references studies around the world pinpointing where people live happier, healthier, and longer lives. Places like Sardinia in Italy, Okinawa in Japan and Loma Linda in California.
What older people in these places were found to have in common include:
- healthy diets, largely plant-based
- active lives that continue after retirement
- ongoing social interactions with like-minded people.
On International Day of Happiness let’s think about these pillars for living healthy, happier lives and how to nurture our very own “Blue Zone” at home.
The “Blue Zone” ties in with the theme for this year’s International Day of Happiness 20 March CHOOSE TO HELP. This theme signifies the importance of helping others and how helping others benefits us as individuals and those we support, setting an example of kindness that can ripple out into the world.
Embracing this theme, the healthy@home members wanted to showcase how helping others is a at the core value of their service.
Remembering the importance of connecting with others and how beneficial it is for our mental and physical wellbeing is a practice we should do daily. Strong ties with family, friends and the community provide us with happiness, security, support and a sense of purpose.
To mark International Day of Happiness, members of the healthy@home consortium spoke about what happiness means to them and their clients.
Here’s what some had to say
“It’s not just the hard things they do, it’s the lovely things, the caring things they do. They make everything easier for when you can’t do it yourself and the amount of love and compassion is incredible.”
Lynnie, Wesley Mission Queensland Community Aged Care Client
“Happy is being picked up from home and taken to Co.As.It. social groups at Amici House. We often get visits from the local pre-school kids. This is a drawing of me, Tom Patterson, as drawn by my new four-year-old friend.”
Tom, Co.As.It Community Aged Care Client
Mary, 91 from Jamboree Heights, loves working alongside her Centacare support worker Joy to keep her home looking its best. “A sense of freedom and independence is what makes me happy.”
Mary, Centacare Community Aged Care Client
With the help of her carer Emma from Wesley Mission Queensland’s Community Aged Care team, Rita was able to face her fears of the water and begin water aerobics at the advice of her doctor.
“It’s a day I don’t have to stress or worry. I know Emma’s coming and we’ll have a good time.“
Rita, Wesley Mission Queensland Community Aged Care Client
See below all of the amazing posts that have been showcased in the week leading up to this year’s International Day of Happiness.
About healthy at home
Brisbane North PHN is proud to lead the healthy@home consortium, comprising of 18 leading organisations who are experienced in supporting people with diverse needs, characteristics and life experiences.
Services offered by consortium members are based on a wellness philosophy that supports the strengths, capacity and goals of older people – to enhance independence, autonomy and physical, social and emotional wellbeing.