“Society should be more inclusive and allow the elderly to decide more independently”
We interviewed Dr. Montserrat Celdrán, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Barcelona.
One of Dr. Celdrán’s main fields of research is ageing, a stage of life that involves profound changes in several areas including the physical, psychological, and social. We talked with her about the risks, dangers, and opportunities that this stage offers, and about how to carry out an interdisciplinary approach that transforms the way in which society accompanies the elderly and guarantees their rights.
When we talk about ageing, what exactly are we talking about?
We are talking about a stage of life that involves mental, physical, and social changes. On many occasions, ageing is seen from a negative point of view: physical loss, loss of work, approaching the end of life, and so on. We try to turn this around by thinking that, at this stage, there can also be gains in how we manage our emotions, or how we relate to each other socially.
Reaching these final stages of life is also a reward.
Yes, that’s right. When we look at the statistics, we see that it is not only Europe and Japan that are ageing, but the whole world. This is good. The fact that many people are able to grow older means that we are doing well throughout their lives. The challenge we now face lies in how we live this stage and in the quality of life we can provide for these people.
What can we do to improve our quality of life when we reach this age?
I think we need to overcome our fears. We are afraid of getting old, and there is a danger of filling our schedule with a lot of activities and thinking that we are not getting old because we are actively ageing. I think you have to think about how you want to grow old and plan for when things don’t go well, for example, deciding how you want to be looked after if you become dependent.
What are the main factors influencing the ageing process?
On the one hand, everything you have done during your life cycle: how you have taken care of yourself, how you have taken care of your finances, social relations, and so on. These factors help you to have a facilitating environment for ageing but, on the other hand, that is not enough, you have to keep working when you retire and plan for ageing and think: what do I want to do? Can I be an entrepreneur at 75? Do I want to start a career? Society should be more inclusive and allow the elderly to decide more independently. There are older people who don’t have any issues, and some need a hand, some didactic workshop or more customised advice.
What are the main areas of research you have focused on in relation to ageing?
We have focused on three main areas. First, we have conducted a great deal of research on the role of the elderly within the family, which is often overlooked. It is taken for granted that grandparents will look after their grandchildren, and that this is a pleasant role for them, but this is often not the case. Grandparents would perhaps enjoy the grandchildren if they looked after them for five hours a week, but sometimes this turns into twenty hours a week. And they can’t choose either, because their children set the days and hours. So, in our research we see that this can be a very demanding role.
What about the other two areas?
The second area worth mentioning has to do with the community and the visibility of the elderly as an asset to society. Many of these people practice voluntary work and are essential assets for the community: they are involved in associations, trade unions, social movements, etc. They contribute to a better society.
And finally, we focus on the rights of the elderly. We have written about ageism and how to detect age discrimination through language. We have also carried out research –which has then been transferred into training projects in nursing homes– related to the affective and sexual needs of the elderly.
Certain messages from society have an impact on lowering self-esteem.
One of the negative parts of ageing is that the elderly may end up believing that what comes with age is being alone, having chronic pain, etc. When this happens, it is difficult to change the cognitive patterns because people surrender to that feeling. We have to change this view and say: ‘You are that age, but I want to accompany you in this process and I want to try to ensure that you do not lose quality of life’. This is a total change in the paradigm of how we accompany people’s health.
Do you currently have any research projects underway?
With the support of the Bosch i Gimpera Foundation, we are now collaborating with the Mental Health Catalonia Foundation to carry out a study on people over 55 with a history of mental health issues to see how they cope with their ageing and whether they feel discriminated against. We also want to analyse elderly people without mental health history who have a child or relative with mental health issues. Often they worry about ageing, not so much for themselves, but because of what might happen to their relative when they are no longer with them.
More about… Montserrat Celdrán
The best invention in history?
Writing.
What would you like to see in the future?
More intergenerational relationships.
A future advancement that scares you?
Anything that puts only the human being at the centre and does not think about the planet or the other animals.
A role model?
Carme Triadó.
What could be done to achieve equality between men and women?
To foster a greater involvement of men in caregiving.
Knowledge transfer is important…
For the betterment of society.