If you want a guide to making the most of life, you could look to Okinawa, a group of islands at the southern end of Japan, where residents attribute their extended life expectancy and exceptional good health to ‘ikigai’, the concept of finding purpose in life.
Okinawa, a northern Japanese region with one of the world's highest longevity rates
Okinawa, a northern Japanese region with one of the world's highest longevity rates
Or you could look a little closer to home and see a very similar philosophy in action at Ryman villages around New Zealand. Here you’ll find supportive social networks and the opportunity to live with attitude and purpose, are backed up by security and care that enables residents to follow whatever passions they choose.
Keeping social and active
For Ryman resident Lynette, that means starting each morning with a yoga session and 2km walk.
After a fulfilling corporate career that saw her breaking down barriers and travelling all over the world, Lynette continues to live with the curiosity and engagement that made her so good at her job.
“I’ve got to keep busy, I can’t sit still,” she says. “Yoga keeps me physically and mentally fit.”
Lynette also finds purpose in sharing her knowledge and skills. She’s in the process of setting up a foundation to mentor and financially support underprivileged young women who are interested in a career in technology.
“Helping others helps me,” she says. “It keeps my mind occupied because I live in my head. I don’t live in my body.”
A feeling of security
Fellow resident Joan shares Lynette’s philosophy that a good day is a full day. Joan was originally attracted to retirement village lifestyle because downsizing to an apartment would give her the freedom to indulge her love of travelling.
While the pandemic has made international travel difficult over the past couple of years, previously Joan had enjoyed a wide variety of trips that included visiting Turkey and Croatia, cruising up the coast of Mexico, and touring the United States.
“I could just lock up and leave,” she says. “No worries.”
But life is just as busy at home in her Ryman apartment. Joan’s philosophy for making the most of each day is simple.
“I’m always positive and try to see the best in people,” she says. “I’m a people person, I just really like people. A good day is a day when I get to help someone.”
Edmund Hilary Village resident Joan says the ability to ‘lockup and leave’ has allowed her the security to pursue her love of travel.
Edmund Hilary Village resident Joan says the ability to ‘lockup and leave’ has allowed her the security to pursue her love of travel.
Ryman residents Sybil and Maureen love a catchup.
Ryman residents Sybil and Maureen love a catchup.
Joan was involved in developing the ‘Nanas and Poppas’, a group of Ryman residents who (Covid restrictions allowing) travel to a local primary school each week to spend time with new entrants and help them with their reading.
“We’ve got some retired principals and schoolteachers here, and it’s something we all really enjoy doing,” she says.
Joan has been a volunteer with the Cancer Society for 49 years and says it's her way of giving back to an organisation that has supported many of her family and friends. Over the years she’s driven patients to appointments, supported the annual Daffodil Day appeal, and helped the Look Good, Feel Better charity, which helps boost the self-esteem of people going through cancer treatment.
“If there’s something they need doing and I can do it – I’m there,” she says.
While volunteering has always been an important part of her life, Joan says the advantage of living in the village is that with all the home maintenance taken care of, she has more time to devote to the organisations she supports.
She’s picked up a few new interests, too. Living at the village has meant she’s made a lot of new friends, and had the chance to reconnect with people she knew decades ago.
“Life is as full here as you want it to be,” she says. “There are so many clubs you can join, both physical activities and creative ones.”
Caring for changing needs
At the core of Ryman’s philosophy is one simple commitment – to better serve each new retirement generation of New Zealanders.
That’s why Ryman villages are named after Kiwi trailblazers - Sir Edmund Hillary, Yvette Williams, Sir Murray Halberg - New Zealanders who lived with passion and purpose.
Ryman prides itself on friendly, inclusive villages which offer independent living with comprehensive care options - enabling residents to dial up their services if they need it.
Each village offers a variety of living options to enable residents to live the way they want to live now, knowing any changing needs the future may bring will be taken care of.
This includes a comprehensive range of care options, from assisted living in a serviced apartment, resthome care and, in most villages, hospital and specialist dementia care.
A sense of fun and adventure
Cindy and Del are an adventure-loving couple and enthusiastic cyclists. They wanted to set up their lives so they could enjoy trips away without worrying about what was going on at home.
“A big thing about the apartment is we just close the door and come back a couple of months later, and it’s just the same,” says Del.
“We don’t have to worry about maintenance or gardens. It’s all done. Security is a big plus for us. When we go away, we know our home is safe and secure.”
That’s helpful when you travel the way this couple does. One of their most challenging trips was an unassisted circumnavigation of Australia, towing everything they needed to survive, including a tent, food, water and clothes.
They’re just as busy off their bikes, with dance lessons, bowls and art sessions filling their calendar.
Cindy and Del are the embodiment of ‘ikigai’, with a strong life purpose that brings them joy every day. Their philosophy of living life to the fullest was behind their move into a Ryman village several years ago, and they haven’t looked back.
“We feel as fit as fiddles, but we're not going to be that for the rest of our lives. At some stage, we're going to need these various stages of care. So, we thought, why not do it while we're still fit and able to settle into the village? And it was the right move.”
Enjoy everything in one place so you can embrace life today without having to worry about the future.
For more information visit Ryman Healthcare's website
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