Narrative Practices and Positive Aging: A Reflection about Life Celebration in a Group of Old Women

• Published in: Women & therapy Vol. 39; no. 1-2; pp. 106 - 123
• Main Authors: d'Araújo, Maria Alexandra, Alpuim, Margarida, Rivero, Catarina, Marujo, Helena Águeda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Routledge 02.04.2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Aging; Discourse; Emotions; Females; Group dynamics; Loneliness; narrative practices; Narratives; old women; Older people; positive psychology; positive women aging; Women; Portugal
• ISSN: 0270-3149; 1541-0315
• DOI: 10.1080/02703149.2016.1116323

The main objective of this article is to address the impact of narrative practices in life celebration after the age of 80 and in the co-construction of a community-positive future. We share here an exploratory reflection about the narratives of a group of older women integrated in a community project. The Wednesday Tea Project (Chá das Quartas) has been ongoing for 4 years, and involves a group of old women experiencing high levels of loneliness and isolation in their small village in Portugal. The Wednesday Tea Project is based on positive psychology methodologies and consists of ritualized sessions that encourage participatory group dynamics. To describe how this project has highlighted the benefits of narrative practices, we utilized a series of scaffolding questions. Some of the most relevant outcomes of this project are: (a) the deconstruction of the dominant social discourse; (b) the publication of a book; (c) the reduction of loneliness feelings by re-membering significant figures; and (d) new levels of action both to women and the community as a consequence of a re-authoring process. Narrative practices seem to have contributed to the consolidation of all time dimensions, giving these women the opportunity to celebrate life after the age of 80, while also allowing the community to be part of and to benefit from the process. A reflection about the contributions of this article to a paradigm change toward positive aging is presented.