The Council on Aging is pleased to announce its second program in a series called Life Transitions, to be held at Volunteers Hall on Thursday, Oct. 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. This program, “Finding Purpose in Later Life: Careers, Lifelong Learning, and Volunteerism,” will focus on ideas presented last month by kick-off speaker Roger Landry. Landry debunked the myth that older people reach a peak in their lives and then inevitably begin a downward slope. Instead, he argues, one has the power to make lifestyle choices that will enable one to live a full life for an extended period in later years. He captures his belief in the title of his book due out in January: “Live Long, Die Short.”
The Oct. 17 program will feature four panelists who will share specific ways in which older people can continue to find purpose, passion, and productivity, which Landry says is one of the secrets of successful aging.
- Talking about a second career will be Nancy Morehouse of Re-Serve, a nonprofit placement agency that focuses on matching professionals 55 and up with a full- or part-time job.
- Bob Remeika is from Operation ABLE, a job retraining and networking service that helps nonprofessionals 45 and over to keep up with current skills or acquire new ones.
- Richard Grove of the Lifelong Learning Program at UMass Lowell will talk about the wealth of courses and activities that ensure social and intellectual wellness.
- Margaret Koch, executive director of the Healing Garden, will talk about the win-win of volunteerism and describe the variety of opportunities at the Garden.
The next program in the Life Transitions series will be November 14.
