A pleasant aging experience in the municipality of ’s-Hertogenbosch. You achieve this by meeting each other and making timely choices about where and how you want to live, and what care you need. Marleen (59) and Pieter (70) participated in the first Bossche Citizen Assembly. Together with other residents, social organizations, and the municipality, they reflected on how we can age well now and in the future in our municipality. While Pieter mainly looks ahead, Marleen lives more in the present. Yet both think about aging well. What choices can you already make? And who or what do you need for that? Marleen and Pieter answer the most important questions.
Aging well, why is it good to think about it?
Pieter: More and more people want to decide about their own lives and not be dependent on others. On the other hand, the government wants residents to be self-reliant where possible. We are living longer and therefore need care for a longer time. It is good to think about what these developments mean for you as you get older.
Marleen: My parents and parents-in-law got older and needed more help. I also participated in the Citizen Assembly. I heard stories from others about elderly people, but also young people who experience difficulties getting the right care or finding a suitable place to live. Through those experiences and talking about them, I started thinking about how I want to age well.
When do you start thinking about aging well?
Pieter: The earlier the better. Because then you have influence on how you age. I discovered the Knarrenhof too late: a voluntary community where residents live together. That is why I now live in a ground-floor apartment with a sit-shower and a lift, even though I do not need it yet. I sometimes ask people around me: how do you manage if you can no longer climb the stairs? ‘Then there will be a stairlift, I think,’ I hear back. But it is not that simple.
Marleen: Age is just a number. What you build up during your life all contributes to a pleasant life later. If you are used to building social contacts and gaining experiences in your younger years, it can be easier to continue doing this as you get older. For young and old, I hope you dare to take steps. No matter how small, alone or together with someone else.
What do you do to age well?
Pieter: Stay active as much as possible. I still run. It is not as fast anymore, but I try to keep it up. I also want to stay healthy mentally. So I put a lot of energy into contact with others. I am a member of clubs and give athletics training. When I stopped working, I realized that I get the most pleasure from meeting people. And those social contacts help me to age well in the future.
Marleen: Actually do the fun ideas I have. Because, for example, I really wanted to take salsa lessons, but I had so much trouble signing up by myself. When I finally took the step, it gave me a feeling of victory. Now I enjoy it weekly. As long as ideas stay in my head, they do not help me. The good feeling only comes when I put them into practice.
What is your tip for residents?
Marleen: Aging does not have to mean you can no longer discover and gain new experiences. Keep developing and trying out. What makes you happy? Set a goal for each day and go out. If you get energy from something, you will also be open to new things again. Do you need help with this? Visit one of the neighborhood squares in our municipality.
Pieter: Do not make aging too big. That is quite difficult, especially if you are not healthy. There is more to life than earning money and having a nice house. The basis is that you meet each other, do fun things, and are there for each other when needed; each in their own way. Look around your own environment at what is already there. People thrive on contact with others, try it yourself.
Photo explanation: Pieter and Marleen in action during the Citizen Assembly.