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Active Aging and Self-Esteem

Professor of Gerontology Gerontology Program Southwest Missouri State University 901 South National Avenue Springfield, Missouri 65804 E-mail: bradleyfisher{at}smsu.edu

Age No Problem. Video/2002/50 min. A film by Wim Schepens for VPRO Television. Distributed by Filmakers Library, 124 East 40^th Street, NY, NY 10016. 212-808-4980. Online: www.filmakers.com. E-mail: info{at}filmakers.com. Purchase $295, Rental $75.

Age No Problem documents one company, Vita Needle, and how it capitalized on the use of older adults as its primary work force. The central message of the film, implied rather than stated, is that active older adults are more satisfied, and employment is one avenue for maintaining an active lifestyle.

In the video, older adults are shown working at the needle factory and taking obvious satisfaction in having something to do. Through the effective use of interviews, the workers express a collective gratitude to the company for making these opportunities available; as a consequence, they feel appreciated for their contributions. When asked about working, the comments vary, but many of the older adults express a general pattern that working was better than sitting around and doing nothing. This response is captured by one woman who maintains that five years of traditional retirement was enough for her and that she "couldn't stand it." Another woman says, "Thank God I have some place to go and I can be useful again." One worker comments that in the morning her fingers are stiff with arthritis and that the work helps to loosen up her fingers. While it is never stated directly, these interviews support the old adage, "Use it or lose it!"

The benefits of working include more than a renewed sense of purpose or a reason to get up in the morning. The workers comment about the social benefits of work. That social value is illustrated in scenes of workers talking while doing their jobs, sharing cake on a break, and greeting another employee who returns after a prolonged illness. One particularly moving scene shows a male worker who mentions the recent loss of his wife and notes that most of his friends (his support network) are dead. He comments on the benefit of the work situation: "Here I got people my own age. They're in the same boat I am—widows or widowers. They understand. They're very supportive. It's a therapy." Only one worker mentions money as an incentive to work; she minimizes its importance by referring to her wages as "pin money" and admits it is not sufficient income upon which to live.

Fred Hartman, president of Vita Needle, also is interviewed and shown interacting with the workers. While he appears condescending or patronizing at times, the overall impression he makes is that he truly cares about his employees and their well-being. At one point, he explains the "reinventing" of the company and how it became necessary to find workers who would be willing to work at a lower wage. When older adults applied and accepted jobs, the company increased its profits. While Hartman claims that the company came upon a good idea, it should be noted that the profit from this business strategy came first before this became the philosophy of the company. Questions could be raised regarding the dedication of the company to accommodate older workers since it appears that one litmus test of a worker's ability is negotiating the two flights of stairs to get to the factory. The director even states that workers have a job for life—"as long as they can come up the stairs." That image of the stairs becomes a metaphor representing the elders' delicate balance between activity and frailty, continued access to the workplace and fear of losing one's access to the workplace. Despite some of these underlying concerns, Hartman does talk positively about the older workers as flexible, loyal, dedicated, hardworking employees that are seldom absent from work.

In addition to the focus on workplace dynamics, viewers also will enjoy the insights offered by these older adults when they reflect on issues such as widowhood, declining health, coping with the death of loved ones, impending mortality, and the importance of a positive attitude. With the exception of one man who complains about his ailments and is rather pessimistic about the future, the other workers convey a general sense of optimism and contentment. One woman uses humor to reflect on her death when she worries that her first husband, who died young, will not welcome this "old lady" upon their reunion in the afterlife. When asked about death, one worker laughs, "There's got to be an ending to this good book I'm reading." Another worker reflects on the importance of enjoying life and laughing every day and trying to help others by making them laugh as well. These bits of insight and wisdom, threaded throughout the video, convey a deep understanding of life, an acceptance of death, and a desire to maintain positive relations with others.

There are some weaknesses and distractions in the video. One weakness was the choice of background music. The violin and piano music that plays at the opening of the film can best be characterized as somber and serious. This same music is used in the middle and closing of the video and leaves the viewer feeling more pensive than upbeat. Another weakness was the inclusion of scenes that had nothing to do with the experience of the older workers in the needle factory. These scenes, which distracted from the central focus of the video, showed older adults dancing to a David Lee Roth tune, two sisters talking about their husbands, and these same two sisters visiting a beauty parlor.

Despite these minor weaknesses, Age No Problem clearly makes a contribution in its portrayal of older workers and the benefits of work in later life. The video can be used in any class focusing on workplace issues. It is directly applicable to gerontology classes because it will stimulate discussion on work and retirement. The video also would be a useful tool for business majors and even appropriate for showing to business and community groups in order to sensitize employers to the benefits of hiring older workers.

The cumulative impact of the video suggests that older adults are still vital and capable and will use the work environment to enhance the quality of their lives through socialization and making an ongoing contribution to society. Overall, the video encourages a general mood of optimism that one can maintain a sense of purpose and usefulness well into later life.

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