Exploring longevity with Australian centenarians

Abstract

Aims: There is an absence of Australian based centenarian studies that focus on experiential understandings of ageing from centenarians themselves. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of life transitions with people who had reached the age of 100 years to reveal the factors contributing to their longevity. Method: Twenty four Australian centenarians were recruited into this narrative study to generate stories about their lives and understandings of their longevity. In-depth interviews were conducted in five Australian states. Results: Content analysis of the stories indicated a range of factors that participants identified as possible contributions to their Iongevity. These included good genes and luck as well as a range of lifestyle and environmental factors including hard work, leading a simple life incorporating moderation in all things, religious beliefs and connectedness with others and community. An emerging centenarian personality was identified that indicates that these people had an ability to accept life's events, to accept and adapt to their own changing limitations and to cope with their feelings of impending mortality. Conclusion: Living to 100 years and beyond need not be a time of complete frailty, dependence and senescence. Findings from this study were consistent with other centenarian studies and indicate that detailed exploration with Australian centenarians in larger studies with specific and focused research questions is required to inform future health and social policy and practice. (author abstract)

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