Training Wellbeing for Senior Generations: Lifelong Skill Development
Unleash the Positive Side of Aging: "Metacognitive Training-Silver BeWell"
Join a group of seniors laughing and sharing stories at the Kultorhaus in Wandsbek Eichtalpark. This isn't just a casual gathering; it's a part of the "Metacognitive Training-Silver BeWell" program, designed to help seniors reframe negative thought patterns and embrace aging with a brighter outlook.
The group session today focuses on examining their first thoughts and spontaneous feelings. "I've suspected they were laughing at me," one participant muses. Another chimes in, "If you've experienced exclusion since childhood, such thoughts can sting." It's a simulation of real-life scenarios where negative interpretations and snap judgments could trigger an emotional downward spiral, potentially leading to isolation and melancholy.
But that's where the training comes in. One participant suggests, "I could join them and ask if I can laugh along," sparking laughter in the room. This simple shift in perspective demonstrates the power of metacognitive training, which teaches seniors to view their thought patterns from an objective perspective, encouraging a more positive and reality-based outlook.
Together, UKE and "insel e.V." Offer this Empowering Program
Since January 2022, the association "insel e.V." has partnered with the UKE to offer this metacognitive training to seniors aged 60 and above, funded by foundations. Over ten modules, topics such as how to deal with aging, values, resilience, and cognitive biases like all-or-nothing thinking, over- and underestimation, and blame are covered. These entertaining and interactive exercises aim to shift perspectives, helping participants break free from ruminative thoughts and bring more lightness to their daily lives.
The Science Behind the Training
"Thoughts significantly impact our well-being. It's reassuring to know that we can learn to detach from negative thought patterns and replace them with positive or at least realistic thoughts," explains Dr. phil. Brooke Viertel, who developed the low-threshold metacognitive training in collaboration with colleagues from the research area of neuropsychology and psychotherapy at the UKE in 2018. Studies have proven the effectiveness of this training, with seven trained trainers from "insel e.V." offering the courses in several districts in cultural centers, senior cafés, and senior residences.
Building Trust and Friendships
"This is not a traditional group therapy," says group leader Silvia Duarte, a kindergarten teacher and social administrator. "Participants can decide how much they want to share about themselves. Many find it comforting not to feel alone with their worries and appreciate the camaraderie. Trust often forms among participants, and some connections remain even after the course concludes."
Empowering Seniors to Grow Old Healthily, Happily, and Contentedly
Participant Michael Kalwitzki, a participant in the first course at the Kultorhaus in the fall of 2022, along with Klaus Curth from the "Friends of the Eichtal Park e.V." association, founded a follow-up self-help offer named "Eulengruppe" after the training's mascot. Nine seniors have since been meeting monthly to stay active and maintain a positive outlook on life in old age.
"I was raised with discipline and criticism," says the 76-year-old. "In the past, I used to internalize negative feelings until they boiled over, causing anger. Now, I've learned to step back from negative thoughts and consider alternative perspectives, making me far more placid."
Petra Göbler, a current course participant, retired last year and is eager to navigate this new chapter of life consciously and positively. She appreciates the training's focus on self-awareness, noting that she now pays closer attention to her reactions and negative thoughts, which has helped her approach situations with more empathy and curiosity.
Petra has even started doing the exercises from the accompanying booklet at home with her husband. She hopes to eliminate ingrained negative thoughts, prejudices, and the half-empty glass mentality through the course. "I've decided to age gracefully, happily, and contentedly. Wouldn't it be great to see the glass as half full more often?"
The group wraps up the session by discussing the cognitive distortion that can complicate life at any age: future catastrophizing. "I often hear students say they imagine catastrophes during exam stress: What if I oversleep on the day of the exam? What if I miss the train and miss the test, and ultimately fail to graduate?" says group leader Saskia Krentz, recalling her university days. The metacognitive training can help in such situations by encouraging participants to take a deep breath and realistically assess their circumstances. After all, even in the worst-case scenario, an exam can be retaken.
For more information on upcoming "Metacognitive Training-Silver BeWell" courses, contact project leader Ximena del Villar from the Hamburg association "insel e.V.": Tel: 040/380 38 36-601 and E-Mail: [email protected]. Let's embrace aging with positivity and confidence, one thought at a time.
- Seniors participating in the "Metacognitive Training-Silver BeWell" program, designed to boost mental health and wellness during the aging process, learned the importance of shift perspectives to combat negative thought patterns and foster a more positive outlook on life.
- The science behind the Metacognitive Training program reveals its effectiveness in enhancing the mental health of seniors, as it focuses on teaching participants to objectively analyze their thought patterns and replace negative thinking with positive or realistic thoughts, thus mitigating the impact of cognitive distortions on their well-being and overall happiness.
