Focus on spiritual health and self-care in old age: Special on World Senior Citizen Day

The World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested a five-pronged global strategy to deal with aging population consisting of commitment to healthy ageing; aligning health systems with the needs of older populations; developing systems for providing long-term care; creating age-friendly environments along with improving measurement and monitoring and understanding about aging.

WHO's definition of health is more than just the absence of illness emphasizes the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and social well-being. Further WHO recognizes spiritual health as an important dimension of overall well-being, although it's not explicitly included in their formal definition of health, reports an AI Overview.

With recognition of Spiritual Therapy, one of age-friendly factors related to responsible aging is shift towards spirituality. There is a need to become 'spiritual senior' after the age of 75 years.

My own take on old age is: "Old age represents a period dedicated to the cultivation of wisdom intertwined with spiritual development. It is an intriguing and fervent time to explore one's personal life journey, facilitating further self-improvement through self-awareness and self-care, ultimately leading to a fulfilling final act. This phase marks a transition from worldly desires to the spiritual virtue of compassion. It is a time to embrace our complete selves and liberate ourselves by mastering the art of letting go and achieving equanimity."

Maggie Kuhn holds that senior citizens must affirm aging and make a shift to a new life style of simplicity, minimalism and spiritual wisdom as she puts is, "We deny that aging is a toilsome treadmill grinding to a tragic halt as the years pile up. We affirm aging as a life-spanning process of growth and development from birth to death." Similarly, Thomas R. Cole affirms, "Aging is a moral and spiritual frontier because its unknowns, terrors, and mysteries cannot be successfully crossed without humility and self-knowledge, without love and compassion, without acceptance of physical decline and mortality and a sense of the sacred."

Be a Spiritual Senior When Turn Senior Citizen: Haiku

For your own well-being

Be a 'Spiritual Senior'

Halt cognitive loss!

Expect not, have hope

Find new meaning in your life

Take spiritual care

Meditate daily

Do daily chores mindfully

Self-wellness matters

Turn 'old' into 'gold' -

Strive for wellness of mind, body

By tending spirit