Enriching Lives - we explore the secrets to happiness in later life

23 August 2022

Ron Bunce, resident at Castlecroft Residential Care Home in Birmingham coaching children's rugby

As part of Sanctuary Care’s Enriching Lives programme, we commissioned a survey to discover the secrets to happiness in later life, with being outdoors coming out on top.

Our study of 1,000 people over the age of 60, revealed that 79% felt spending time outside was key to their happiness, with laughter coming in close-by with 73%, and socialising not far behind at 58%.

Results of the study also highlighted how 43% of the people surveyed said that their later years have been the happiest of their lives, with their early 80s being a ‘golden era’.

Our Enriching Lives research highlights how people need to achieve ‘six senses’ to feel truly fulfilled – a sense of security, belonging, continuity, purpose, achievement and significance.

And for one of our residents, Ron Bunce, the results couldn’t be more fitting. Ron loved to coach children’s rugby and working out in the gym, which he hadn’t done for a long time before he moved into our Castlecroft Residential Care Home in Birmingham.

At the age of 73, Ron is proud to be back coaching the juniors at King’s Norton RFC, and a room at the care home has been transformed into a gym!

When it comes to happiness in later life, as the saying goes, ‘everyone needs a hobby’! For me, it’s rugby, which been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember, from battling it out on the pitch at the weekends as a boy to now.
Resident, Ron Bunce

Sanctuary’s Chief Operating Officer – Care & Support, Sarah Clarke Kuehn, who is leading our Enriching Lives Programme says: “It’s wonderful to hear so many older people expressing strong feelings of happiness in later life. The results show that this isn’t achieved by simply maintaining the status quo, but that factors such as developing new relationships and passions and finding a renewed sense of purpose are essential as we grow older.

“At Sanctuary Care we are dedicated to enriching the lives of all our residents and are using our recent research to better understand what it is that helps each individual in our homes to live their life with a smile and to support them in reaching these goals.”

Talking about the results Sir Muir Gray, former Chief Knowledge Officer to the NHS, author of Increase your Brainability—and Reduce your Risk of Dementia, and director of The Optimal Ageing Programme says: “Many studies have shown the importance of purpose or “ikigai” a Japanese concept which means a “reason for being”. As the research has highlighted, reconnecting with these influences can make a significant difference to our quality of life. If we can all strive towards opportunities for achievement and purpose as we grow older, we can embrace an enriched and happy later life.”

The results - our 10 tips for happiness in later life: