What really struck me was the idea of “joyspan”—an idea that’s become central to the aging discussion. It focuses on quality of life, not just length. Joyspan beautifully conveys the joy and happiness of aging well. It provides a useful counterbalance to the unquestioning pursuit of just extending our lifespan and healthspan. Recent discussions among experts in geriatric medicine highlight that without joyspan, a long life can feel burdensome rather than fulfilling.
Dr. Louise Aronson, a prominent figure in geriatric medicine, has been teaching at the University of California, Irvine school of medicine for 19 years. She notes that people typically adopt one of two mindsets regarding aging: viewing it as a decline or as an opportunity for continued growth. Joan, not surprisingly an educator from the same institution, lives out the latter philosophy. For 18 years she has taught geriatric medicine and gerontology. She revels in many arts, crafts and pastimes. These endeavors ignite her exuberant spirit and fire her joyful love for life.
Dr. Aronson emphasizes the importance of this distinction, stating, “We’ve added a couple of decades, essentially an entire generation, on to our lives, and we haven’t figured out how to handle that.” To us, this recognition signals a deep understanding of the struggles so many experience as they try to age on their own terms in today’s society.
Studies on psychological well-being in the context of longevity date back more than 35 years. For more than three decades, researchers have identified four key ingredients for success in later life. This surprising discovery holds true in light of all the dozens of predictors they’ve looked at. These factors play a major role in determining one’s joyspan.
Joan embodies each of these ideas through her irresistible approach to being alive. She states, “I find life fascinating. I’m still growing now, just as I have in every other phase of my life.” Her eagerness to grow and improve stands in stark opposition to another character, Dee, who embodies the spirit of a decline mindset. For Dee, her process of aging was a “downward freefall.” She sits in her recliner for really long periods, and she thinks that’s made her legs a lot weaker. Her future vision is usually accompanied by cynical comments, including calling day-to-day living as we age “complete nonsense.”
Joan and Dee’s mindsets couldn’t be more different. Their different points of view highlight the ways joyspan can differ from person to person — even within the same experience. While Joan actively seeks out connections and responds empathetically to others, such as when she noticed changes in the author’s middle daughter following a brain tumor diagnosis, Dee remains isolated in her perspective.
The conversation around joyspan is really important, not just because we all need to figure out what being older and living longer really means. Sampling joyspan is a critical component to living a vibrant life. It’s more than just adding years to your life or healthspan, it’s about adding genuine purpose to your life as you grow older.