Author: Diana HC Tan

Gerotranscendence is about ageing positively. (Achenhaum, 2006). Every human being has the potential to grow, develop, and be the best they can be at any age, under any circumstances. (Acton, 2001).

Tornstam, the Swedish professor who introduced the theory of gerotranscendence divided it into three domains – the cosmic level, the level of Self and the level of social and person relations (Wadensten & Carlsson, 2003).

With the rise of a group called “cultural creatives”[1], conscious aging will likely remain an attractive option for many (Moody, p.427). Boomers will look toward psychotherapy, self-help, and religion as tools for finding spiritual growth. (Moody, p.428).

It is early to predict where and how the growth of creative efforts, new discoveries, theories, therapies and learnings will evolve but we are certainly living in an exciting era. For the conservatives rooted in their religion-structured beliefs, much of what is happening today – meditation, yoga, alternative health therapies, reminiscence therapy and dream analysis – may seem “new age” but my personal view is that if a person is led to greater spiritual freedom and if the “I” becomes other-centered – when transcendence takes place – the world will be a better place to live in. Skeptics who wonder if elders, with their limited life expectancy, can “change the world” can take heart that religion purports the notion of “change begins with me”. If elders live this ideal first to change themselves then, as Christianity teaches, be filled with God’s love and go forth to serve others, the witnessing to Christ’s love and sacrifice will replace the narcissism that skeptics talked about. (Moody, p.430). The ways to “know thyself”, for example, lifelong learning, expressive arts, holistic health practices, reminiscence, and spirituality have to be thoughtfully administrated. My view is that it is better to have tried and tested than not to have experimented at all.

Footnote

[1] “Cultural creatives”, a term coined by Ray and Anderson (2000) “consists of people who subscribe neither to traditional and conservative values, on the one hand, nor to modern and rationalistic values, on the other. Instead, the cultural creatives care about ecology and human relationships and favor social policies directed toward peace and social justice.”

Source: Ray and Anderson (2000). In Kimble. M.A. and McFadden, S.H. (eds.), Aging, Spirituality, and Religion: A Handbook, Volume 2, 2003, p.427, Fortress Press, Minneapolis.

References
Achenbaum, W.A. (2006). [Review of the book: Lars Tornstam, Gerotranscendence: A Developmental Theory of Positive Aging, Springer Publishing Company, New York, 2005, ISBN 0 8261 3134 4.] Ageing & Society 26, 2006, 669–685. Cambridge University Press, DOI:10.1017/S0144686X06225261.

Acton, G.J. (2001), Promoting a Positive View of Aging (Editorial), Journal of Holistic Nursing, 19; 219, DOI: 10.1177/089801010101900301.

Moody, H.R., ‘Conscious Aging: The Future of Religion in Later Life’. In Kimble. M.A. and McFadden, S.H. (eds.), (2003), Aging, Spirituality, and Religion: A Handbook, Volume 2, Fortress Press, Minneapolis.

Wadensten, B., and Carlsson, M. (2003), ‘Theory driven guidelines for practical care of older people, based on the theory of gerotranscendence’, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 41, 5, 462-470.