For years, experts have tried to crack the secret to happiness — and now, a new report from National Seniors Australia (NSA) may have found the answer, at least when it comes to older Australians.
Their findings showed that happiness means different things to different people — and that older Australians shouldn’t be boxed into stereotypes.
To understand what truly brings joy later in life, more than 2,500 Australians aged 50 and over were asked to share what would help them maintain or boost their happiness. The results revealed a wide variety of interests, needs and desires — proving there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach to happiness.
“As you’d expect, some people identified more money, secure housing, or good health as key factors that would improve their happiness,” NSA Chief Executive Officer Chris Grice said.
“But they weren’t the only factors, with others nominating varied pathways to happiness such as ‘Living a Dan Beutner’s Ble Zone lifestyle’.
“We took a big picture approach to identify the core principles, ideals, and beliefs that shape people’s personalities and drive their lives. From the comments, we developed 11 ‘personas’ to try and capture what drives people’s happiness.
“For example, the report describes a ‘Stability Seeker’ persona for those who want social and technological change to slow right down. As one respondent wrote, ‘As you age, I believe, that happiness is very closely linked to security and certainty’.
“‘Keen Participators’ find happiness in activities that entertain and provide new experiences. And ‘Policy Enthusiasts’ are passionate about reforming Age Pension rules, supports for carers, or downsizing incentives, to name a few.”
According to the identified personas, happiness comes from:
1. Survival Realists – having enough money to cover the basics and where possible, a little bit extra.
2. Fierce Independents – staying independent through health, wealth, and control of life’s choices.
3. Keen Participators – having the time, money, and ability to pursue interests, such as travel.
4. Nest Featherers – having a fulfilling home life, with a loving partner or solo bliss, and pets.
5. Social Connectors – relationships with family, friends, and the means to find like-minded others.
6. Policy Enthusiasts – improvements to retirement income, aged care, and other ageing supports.
7. Global Idealists – an active civil society, government integrity, environmental protection, peace.
8. Stability Seekers – a sense of security, and assurance the life we’ve planned won’t be upended.
9. Inner Peaceniks – having a positive mindset, attitude, faith and spiritual connections.
10. Respect Warriors – respect for older people’s contributions and eliminating ageism.
11. Unique Individuals – all kinds of interests from reiki to better disabled access to waterways.
While money, health and purpose all play a part in happiness, one simple source of joy might be sitting right next to you — your pet.
Keeping a pet isn’t merely a source of joy for over 60s, it can actually enhance their overall well-being with research suggesting that engaging with animals can facilitate a more positive ageing experience.
According to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) the “scientifically documented benefits of the human-animal bond include decreased blood pressure, reduced anxiety, and enhanced feelings of well-being.”
“Positive human-animal interaction appears to be related to changes in physiological variables both in humans and animals, particularly dogs,” they explained.
According to previous research undertaken by Healthy Pets, simply walking a dog could help lower body mass index resulting in a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. They can also help people overcome loneliness, stay focused and provide routine to the day, something that many over-60s miss following retirement.
A separate study by the Alzheimer’s Association in Germany found pets can even help improve verbal communication function and attentiveness among those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia.
While the world can sometimes feel full of challenges, this research is a powerful reminder that happiness isn’t out of reach. Whether it’s financial security, meaningful relationships, personal growth, or the companionship of a loyal four-legged friend, there are countless ways to find joy — and plenty of reasons to keep looking on the bright side of life.
IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.