Hello everyone, and welcome fall! I’ll be honest—I was looking for inspiration for this month’s blog. As you may already know, JH Partners’ mission is health promotion and prevention. After three and a half years of writing monthly blogs, I sometimes worry I might repeat myself. But some topics are worth revisiting, and thanks to a community member who reads this blog and shared an insightful conversation with me, I found the exact subject upon which to reflect this month.
The hidden upsides of aging
You’ve probably heard people associate aging with decline. Chances are, you may have thought so yourself. This narrative—that we lose more than we gain as we age—is so ingrained that we rarely question it. In this radio segment (in French) that I listened to recently, I was delighted to hear someone talk about what we gain as we grow older, reminding us that there is always something to look forward to. According to researcher Laura Carstensen, older adults are overall better at conflict resolution, emotion regulation and general knowledge. They are also more likely to cross-check details to give a more complete answer. Her research even shows that emotional well-being tends to improve from early adulthood into old age. Feel free to watch her TED talk on the subject.
Giving thanks for wisdom, wellness and community
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, this reflection brings me back to a reminder I often tell myself: aging is a privilege—especially when health is on our side. I feel deeply grateful to grow a little older each day, and to watch my loved ones do the same. Yes, life comes with its share of challenges and obstacles, but there are also strengths we develop along the way—like resilience.
Through the Life Experiences project, a group of volunteers has been reflecting with residents of Saint Brigid’s Home on how they have faced adversity, where they found meaning and how they showed resilience. To highlight World Mental Health Day, we’ll be publishing the articles they wrote about these inspiring stories on October 10. Be sure to keep an eye on the WE Mind page on our website to read those articles.
Before signing off, I invite you to take a look at our upcoming events for older adults. This month, we’re thrilled to invite you to a joint event with QCRC’s Lifelong Learning program on October 8, 1:30 p.m. at the Jeffery Hale Pavilion. At the Wellness Café: Accessing Medical Services Online, we’ll dive into the various online health platforms—Rendez-vous Santé Québec, Clic Santé, Carnet Santé, etc.—and learn the main differences. On top of it, we’ll benefit from a hands-on workshop with Lifelong Learning to schedule appointments online. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a clearer understanding!
Happy Thanksgiving, and have a lovely fall,
Anaïs