Nature’s Path to Gerotranscendence

Gerotranscendence is the final stage in a natural process moving toward maturation and wisdom. The gerotranscendent individual experiences a new feeling of cosmic communion with the spirit of the universe, a redefinition of time, space, life and death, and a redefinition of self. –Lars Tornstam

Gerotranscendence offers a meaningful way to understand how, as we age, we can develop a more cosmic view of life—marked by deeper connections to Nature, ancestors, and the universe.

This transcendent shift often brings greater ego integrity, less focus on ‘self’ and a longing for meaningful relationships and reflection.

Mindfulness, life experience, and even the design of one’s environment all shape how ‘gerotranscendent’ we become.

Nature Connectedness & Biophilic Design

The earth is our home. Unless we preserve the rest of life, as a sacred duty, we will be endangering ourselves by destroying the home in which we evolved, and on which we completely depend. –E.O. Wilson

Research examined how Biophilic Design and Nature Connectedness can act as catalysts for gerotranscendence.

Living Environments designed with natural features that include natural sunlight, greenery, and organic patterns can deepen an individual’s daily connection to the natural world, sense of coherence, and solitude, and ultimately foster the gerotranscendent experience.

By integrating biophilic design into the spaces where older adults live and engage, research shows that these environments provide physical and psychological benefits and promote pro-environmental behaviors, due to increased opportunities to nurture nature connectedness.

Research has shown that simply living in ‘greener environments’ does not necessarily lead to increased nature connectedness; it is paramount to understand that we need to restore our relationship with Nature.

Implications for Practice

SOCIAL: Co-creating environments that inspire older adults to actively engage in their communities, particularly through environmentally conscious actions, can strengthen community bonds and build sustainable social capital, promoting holistic living and a sense of purpose while leaving a powerful eco legacy to be honored and remembered for generations.

PHYSICAL: Older adults experience health benefits by interacting with Nature in both outdoor and indoor settings, highlighting the need to incorporate natural elements into living and communal spaces for enhanced wellbeing. Designing care and living communities that inspire an outdoor lifestyle is most advantageous. Being outdoors promotes movement, connection to the wider world, fresh air and opportunities to grow the biodiversity of our landscapes;

Reciprocal-Shared Care.

SPIRITUAL: Adopting eco-conscious behaviors and deepening connections with Nature can provide a meaningful sense of purpose, interconnectedness and inner tranquility, resonating with the broader, cosmic outlook described in gerotranscendence theory.

These insights offer opportunities for Care Leaders and Professionals including designers, architects, urban planners, and policymakers to develop models that support positive aging through nature-inspired (biophilic) design and forward-thinking policies, ultimately promoting a more compassionate and inclusive world for all generations, People and Nature.

Green Social Prescribing can be leveraged as a cost-effective, versatile way to grow and complement the spiritual and psychological benefits gerotranscendence offers by providing an avenue for deepening connection to the natural world and living with a sense of renewed purpose.

Intergenerational programs have enormous potential to transcend all ages while enhancing

Nature’s health; Reciprocal-Shared Care.

The endless benefits of the Nature Experience on health and wellbeing, for all ages, are well known, from reducing stress, improving mental and physical health, decreasing isolation and loneliness, while stimulating purpose and meaning.

Beyond the human benefits of meaningful moments with Nature, Nature restoration projects, such as rewilding and planting native species, directly contribute to a more sustainable, more equitable and healthier world.

Reciprocal-Shared Care, aligns with green social prescribing, expanding person-centered care to include the care of whole communities,

working together to care for Nature, while benefiting from the therapeutic effects of the Nature Experience.

Can we collectively nurture gerotranscendence, and generate nature-rich living environments that promote a deeper connection to each other, to Nature, to the Cosmos, to mindful living, with a focus on interconnectedness and interdependence?

As we regenerate and restore natural habitats, biodiversity, we simultaneously co-create a healthier, less stressed, less anxious, less chronically ill and more sustainable world.

This holistic approach to wellbeing, reflects Wilson’s view that preserving Nature, life systems, is our sacred duty.

Eco Gerontology Grows Reciprocal-Shared Care, Nurturing Care Outdoors,

Caring In, With and For Nature. In this way, we become Nature’s Care Ally, cultivating a mutually beneficial and interdependent relationship while exponentially improving the environments where we live, work, learn, pray, heal, and play.

There is no reason for any of us to feel isolated, lonely, or overwhelmed.

Let us reimagine public health, elder care, childcare, and community care by transcending traditional health approaches to focus on holistic wellbeing, integrating the regeneration and restoration of ecosystems and nurturing a reciprocal relationship with Nature as vital forms of care.

In doing so, we foster a future where both people and Nature flourish, generating harmonious longevity for all.

Join US!

REFERENCES

Afacan, Y. (2024). Exploring the Facilitators of the Gerotranscendence Theory: Correlations among Sustainable Behaviors, Biophilic Design, and Nature Connectedness. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal.

Kaplan, S. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15(3), 169-182.

Monroy, M., & Keltner, D. (2023). Awe as a pathway to mental and physical health. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 18(2), 309-320.

Richardson, M. (2023). Reconnection: Fixing our broken relationship with nature. Pelagic Publishing Ltd.

Sánchez González, D. (2018). Natural landscape and environmental gerontology. Environmental Analysis & Ecology Studies.

Twenge, J. M., Campbell, W. K., & Gentile, B. (2013). Changes in pronoun use in American books and the rise of individualism, 1960-2008. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 44(3), 406-415.