Recently, not only researchers targeting the elderly or commercial professionals targeting the elderly, but also many people are paying attention to 'successful aging'.Traditionally, successful aging has been defined mainly based on health and lifespan issues in biological aspects, emphasizing daily living activities or physical performance levels.However, as aging deepens, the argument is to age more maturely and wisely rather than just getting older as time goes by.They began to understand successful aging with optimization of cognitive function, perceived control, perceived self - efficacy, and life satisfaction, emphasizing psychological aspects rather than physical aging.To explain successful aging in detail, it means a state where an individual successfully adapts to changing physical, socio - psychological, and environmental situations as they age and achieves given developmental tasks, resulting in high socio - psychological health and life satisfaction despite the decline in physical health.The new generation of the elderly in the baby boomer generation is paying more attention to dreaming of successful aging than the past elderly generation.
There have been studies suggesting several conditions for successful aging. For example, there are claims that leisure activities in old age help successful aging, claims that high self-esteem of the elderly leads to successful aging, the influence of family on successful aging, and claims that learning immersion in old age leads to successful aging. On the other hand, it is said that social activities or physical activities help successful aging. It means that elderly people who engage in leisure activities and activities through social relationships and continue physical activities even in old age age more successfully than those who do not.
I would like to cite 'communication of the elderly' as a new perspective on successful aging. Communication is very important in old age. There are several reasons.
First, it is because of the Continuity Theory. Continuity theory states that performing roles similar to those performed in middle age along with individual tendencies in old age can improve the quality of life and increase life satisfaction in old age. In the case of Erikson, it was said that the developmental stages of humans are determined, but in fact, the results of development are difficult to predict and adult development often continues. So, for the current middle-aged group, maintaining a lifestyle through continuous communication activities can help mature aging.
Second, communication in old age maintains a lifestyle. Lifestyle can be defined as 'a characteristic way of life distinguished from others that members of society as a whole or a part of society have in common'. It can also be said to be 'a holistic way of life using time and money'. Then how is a lifestyle distinguished from others formed? It lies in media communication. Most people create their own style by seeing, hearing, and feeling through media. Successful aging is ultimately achieved through a sense of accomplishment when creating one's own style that is welcomed and recognized by people.
Third, communication skills lead to successful aging. A person's life is largely determined by their communication skills. Most of the causes of problems in life are due to ineffective communication with people around them. As the saying goes, "The communication is the relationship," communication determines human relationships, and human relationships determine success in life. No matter how much information one possesses, if one cannot communicate, one cannot demonstrate one's ability. Communication is listening to others' stories and effectively conveying one's own stories. Even in old age, there are many methods and means of communication. If you properly utilize means such as your own facial expressions, conversation, phone calls, letters, emails, gifts, eyes, and counseling, negotiation, and persuasion, you can maintain smooth relationships with family, church, surroundings, and friends, and eventually experience successful aging.
Fourth, digital accessibility leads to successful aging. In the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, the difference in the ability to access and utilize digital information devices can lead to social exclusion or inequality. Recently, differences in accessibility according to possession of digital devices, availability of use, device usage ability, and quantitative and qualitative utilization have become causes of the digital divide among the elderly, leading to many social problems. Therefore, interest in how to reduce the digital divide is increasing in the government and research institutes. In particular, coupled with the rapidly progressing aging phenomenon, the difference in digital information accessibility of the elderly is becoming a major issue to pay attention to for improving the quality of life of the elderly and solving elderly problems. In particular, elderly people who are not accustomed to using digital devices may be alienated from the rapidly digitizing social environment changes. Digital access ability determines success or failure in life in old age.
Fifth, the utilization of media information technology changes the quality of life of the elderly generation. The use of information technology such as computers, the Internet, and mobile devices can have a significant impact on the daily life and quality of life of the elderly. While life becomes convenient and communication and exchange with others can be further expanded by utilizing information technology, the possibility of experiencing economic poverty, health problems, social isolation, loneliness, etc., is likely to be more prominent in the elderly group. In particular, elderly people may be affected by depressive symptoms due to lagging behind in media technology. As a result of a survey on the elderly aged 65 and over in Korea in 2017, 21.1% of all elderly people had depressive symptoms, and the rate of depressive symptoms tended to increase with age. Moreover, since mental difficulties such as depressive symptoms can be associated with suicidal thoughts, the utilization of digital technology by the elderly group can be said to be important in terms of prevention.
Sixth, communication skills open the field of mission in the world. The elderly in the church should try to become elderly people who glorify God as well as their own successful aging. To do this, it is necessary to exert a good influence through communication with the world in one's position. Recently, Christian elderly people who are perceived as conservative bigots have become treated poorly in the world. It is because of the lack of empathy for the world, closing it with one's own stubbornness rather than an open attitude toward the problems or issues of the world.
Yoo Young-kwon made a painful point about the church that cannot communicate with the world. He said it was first due to lack of trust, second due to the anxiety of church leaders and the group's dichotomous view of the world, third due to the closed communication structure of the church organization, and fourth due to the absence of empathy due to narcissistic tendencies. This is also a point that applies to the elderly in the church. When the elderly strive and try to communicate with the world, they can change the world.