Associate Professor Louise P Ageing Well National Science Kia ora ki ngā tumuaki o Aotearoa Associate Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie
Department of Anatomy, University of Otago
You’ve had two years demonstrating unwavering, strong, kind leadership to support staff, students and whānau through the challenges that Covid-19 has brought. No one could have predicted – let alone planned – the journey you’ve had to navigate. Yet, here you are – January 2022 – with the next school year beginning. First, I want to acknowledge the work you have done so The next 10 years that students could continue to learn. You are the pou in our There are few certainties in life, but ageing is one of them. It communities. Our unsung heroes. You’ve supported teachers to is a natural biological process, and one we at the Ageing Well motivate students to continue their learning journeys. For some, National Science Challenge encourage people to embrace. There is not a uniform experience of ageing and the ageing your heart has broken observing insurmountable barriers and trajectory can differ greatly between exacerbated inequitable outcomes individuals. Some determinants of for some tauira. Life isn’t fair and ageing are not modifiable or we have that adds to the frustration and had little mana motuhake over them, exhaustion experienced over the last such as genetics, or events in utero two years. or early in life. Other determinants Through all of this it is easy to lose continue to influence the ageing sight of, or continually put lower trajectory in the years to come2. Many down on your to-do list, your own of these are the basics – the things my health and wellbeing. However, in Nana taught me – to eat a healthy order to support others, your wairua diet of unprocessed food, exercise and tinana need to be nourished. regularly, keep your brain active by You need time to pause, reflect, and learning new things, stay connected dream. It’s time to take an hour and with whānau and friends, and seek think about you, not about what your regular medical and dental check ups. school or community needs! Where In many Western societies, ageing do you want to be in 5, 10, or 25 is perceived negatively. For Māori years? My aim is to prompt you to and many other Indigenous cultures, consider how to age and retire well. ageing brings mana, status, experience Demographics indicate that the and many positive benefits. Sure, population of principals in New there can be challenges, but there are Zealand is an ageing and increasingly still so many opportunities. Collette diverse group1. In 2019, the average Maze, a French pianist, recently age of the 2466 principals in New Modifiable determinants of the ageing trajectory released a new album at 107 years of Zealand was in the fifties, and the number of principals over 65 years of age had tripled in the age. Only a year ago, Captain Tom raised £33 million for the United previous 10 years. Of course, this aligns with New Zealand having Kingdom’s National Health System as part of his 100th birthday an ageing population. We expect the number of people over 65 celebrations. Actor Betty White continued working doing what she years of age to double in the next 20 years, at which time, there loved until she was almost 100. Never say never – the possibilities are endless. What is clear is that we need to change the narrative will be 1.3 million people over 65 years of age2. The reality is that almost half of you are eligible to receive of ageing to break down the stereotypes and biases. However, that superannuation within 10 years. So it is timely to pause and kōrero is for another day. consider what you want your next phase of life to look like. Ageing is happening to all of us. With that in mind, and There are no preconceptions on what that might be. Remaining regardless of your chronological age, what do you want your in your current role is one of a myriad of options. future to look like? In 25 years, will your next phase of life include being retired?
arr-Brownlie, Challenge
Retirement may include sharing your knowledge during paid or unpaid work
Retirement Most of us have observed whānau and friends when they retire. Some people flourish, others do not. The reasons for these different experiences are complex. A key thing is to figure out what will work best for you so you can retire, and continue to age, well. Take some time to dream big. Don’t be constrained by what ot hers have done. There are few rules* – be creative. In this era, retirement can look completely different from one person to the next. But generally speaking, retirement often coincides with eligibility to receive t h e Ne w Z e a l a n d superannuation and/or can access retirement savings. It can also be a time when some people leave paid employment and pursue hobbies and volunteering
opportunities. Retirement can also happen gradually. Phased retirement over several years may be a good option if you haven’t had time to think about what you’d like to do when you are no longer a principal. Can you work part-time and continue to mentor others? Principals have abundant transferable skills. If you retire from being a principal, you may continue in paid or unpaid work applying your skills to do things you love. There are endless possibilities; work full-time for a limited number of weeks each year e.g. working as a guide for a tourism ecology organisation during the busy summer season; being the chair of a trust board with monthly meetings that involve a day of work before and afterwards to prepare papers and action decisions; starting a business; fostering the important role and benefits intergenerational relationships have for kaumātua and tauira; or becoming involved in the local art society. Know what gives you purpose in life and embed those things into your next stage of life, too. You get to define what retirement means for you! In New Zealand in 2016, 61% of people over 65 years of age are retired, whereas 14% work fulltime and 18% work part-time, respectively3. Research shows that New Zealanders over 65 years
Kaumātua competing in physical and cognitive events at the Kaumātua Olympics in Hamilton in September 2019
of age who are working have the best health if they have low levels is vitally important for your health4,5. Consider your optimal level of job stress and work-family conflict, and have high levels of and way of engaging with people. Do you want to be around other job involvement. Teachers often have good-to-excellent health people regularly or occasionally? Do you want to have robust at over 65 years of age3. discussion on political issues or prefer catching up on the latest One thing you need to be realistic news from friends? Social connections and pragmatic about is what you’ll do often expanded or maintained around One of the things Ageing are during retirement. As a general guide, where you reside and ongoing hobbies. people flourish during retirement when Well National There are also plenty of opportunities they continue to do things they love to continue learning. Learning is and that bring them purpose. Everyone Science Challenge important to keep our mind active, and has different needs and expectations. is generally thought to help reduce the funded research Consider what makes you happy, placing risk of dementia6,7. U3A (University of the Third Age) and Rotary Clubs invite greater emphasis on what has brought has shown is that experts to talk about things as diverse you joy more recently. However, reflect on as writing a memoir, misadventures, what made you happy earlier in life, too. remaining socially health, dementia, the What have you stopped doing, but always connected is vitally sustainability, cosmos, gardening and landscaping. With loved, and might be able to engage with all of your experience, you may be a guest when you retire? What have you always important for your speaker sharing insights from leading wanted to do, but haven’t had time for? Be 4,5 and managing a school. Embracing cautious about planning your retirement health . opportunities to keep learning is also a around things you have not previously done. If you are considering new activities or hobbies, invest great way to stay connected with like-minded people and keep time in them before you retire to test drive if they really suit you your brain engaged. and you like their social networks. An additional benefit is you can offset any financial investment in the hobby (e.g. a fancy Planning and change sewing machine or a new bike) that may be needed when you As with many things in life, you need to plan for your retirement. The best time to plan your retirement was yesterday, but the still receive a salary. One of the things Ageing Well National Science Challenge second best time to plan is today. Did you discuss transitions with funded research has shown is that remaining socially connected your parents or grandparents as they aged? Give yourself time
to consider all your options to make informed decisions. Also, you don’t need to make all the decisions in one day. Draw upon your skills and strengths to create lists, draw or collect images of what you like and don’t like, and do some market research by asking friends and family what they think are essential to a happy retirement. Use your reflections and research to make evidence-based decisions. Life is full of change and you should expect life transitions during retirement. In some cases, they can be managed proactively, reducing stress and costs. Actively planning for transitions helps to maintain independence, an essential part of ageing well. An example of this is asking yourself how will your decisions change when your partner or significant whānau and friends pass away or you are no longer able to drive. Considering how you might navigate around these challenges will make the transition a little easier. Another common transition is where and how you live. Will your current home enable you to remain independent when you are less mobile? Do you have stairs into or between levels in the house? Consider if your home is close to whānau and friends, hobbies and key services such as the bus routes, supermarket, doctor, hair salon, and hospital. Leaving the house you’ve spent years accumulating memories and possibly raising a family in is hard. However, it is harder to change homes under urgency when you’ve had a fall and can no long navigate stairs. One approach is to consider if your current home will be fit for purpose in 5-10 years time. If you aren’t sure, consider what would future proof your independence. Retirement villages meet some people’s needs and budgets. However, if they aren’t for you, consider
alternatives such as creating your own “village” by having whānau and friends living in close proximity or by sharing a home. Executing a retirement plan should be an exciting time in your life. You have worked hard for this, so I encourage you to do it on your terms. Learn from what has worked for others, but don’t be restricted by their experiences. Dream of the ideal retirement situation for you. Ultimately, having the right retirement plan will contribute to your ongoing positive ageing. Kia tino pai tō tau! About the Author Associate Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie Director, Ageing Well National Science Challenge Department of Anatomy, University of Otago Kaiwhakahaere matua, Kia Eke Kairangi ki te Taikaumatuatanga Te Tari Kikokiko, Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou Biography Associate Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie (Ngāti Maniapoto me Te Arawa) joined the Department of Anatomy at the University of Otago in 2010. Louise completed her undergraduate degree in physical education and doctoral training in neurophysiology at the University of Otago. She held Postdoctoral and Research Fellow positions (2003-2007) at the National Institutes of Health in the United States. Her biomedical expertise is understanding how brain cell activity controls movement and in characterising changes associated with Parkinson’s disease, and she applies that knowledge to discover new ways to treat Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. Louise has extended
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her research programme to explore how Māori have traditionally maintained brain health. As the Director of Ageing Well National Science Challenge, Louise draws on Western science and mātauranga Māori to ensure the best methods are used to answer mission-led research questions, which then deliver equitable outcomes so kaumātua can age positively. Louise has been an invited speaker at prestigious conferences in the United States, is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, and holds senior Māori leadership positions within science and academia. REFERENCES 1. Jagger D (2020) Principals in New Zealand. He Whakaaro, Education Insights, July. https://www.educationcounts.govt. nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/199072/He-Whakaaro-Schoolprincipals-in-New-Zealand.pdf 2. Parr-Brownlie L.C, Waters D.L, Neville S, Neha T, Murmatsu N. (2020) Ageing in New Zealand: Ka haere ki te ao pakeketanga. Gerontologist 60, 812-820. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnaa032 3. Stephens C, Alpass F, Allen J, Szabo A, Stevenson B, Towers A (2018) The New Zealand Health, Work & Retirement Longitudinal Study 2006-2016. Health and Ageing Research Team, Massey University: Palmerston North. Report. https://www.massey. ac.nz/massey/fms/Colleges/College%20of%20Humanities%20 and%20Social%20Sciences/Psychology/HART/publications/ reports/NZHWR_10YearReport_2006-2016_LR.pdf?8010D8D1 75A2379138BF59C960D9025A
connection’: Meanings of loneliness and social isolation to culturally diverse older people. Aging & Mental Health, 24(10), 1627-1635. doi:10.1080/13607863.2019.1633619 5. Waldegrave C, Cunningham C, Love C, Nguyen G (2020) Cocreating culturally nuanced measures of loneliness with Māori elders. Innovation in Aging, 4(1), 610. doi: 10.1093/geroni/ igaa057.2064 6. Vermuri P, Lesnick TB, Przybelski SA, Machulda M, Knopman DS, Mielke MM, Roberts RO, Geda YE, Rocca WA, Petersen RC, Jack CR (2014) Association of lifetime intellectual enrichment with cognitive decline in the older population. JAMA Neurology 71(8), 1017-1024. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2014.963 7. World Health Organisation (2019) WHO Guidelines on risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia. https://www.who. int/publications/i/item/risk-reduction-of-cognitive-decline-anddementia OTHER INFORMATION * When receiving the New Zealand Super and Veteran’s Pension, you are required to reside in New Zealand for at least 26 weeks each year. A full list of obligations can be found here – https://www.workandincome.govt. nz/eligibility/seniors/superannuation/obligations.html
4. Morgan T, Wiles J, Moeke-Maxwell T, Black S, Park H-J, Dewes O, Williams L-A, Gott M (2020). ‘People haven’t got that close
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