Graceful Aging – Beyond Decline
Psychologist Dr. Rachel Cooper redefines the narrative around aging by challenging the dominant cultural model that views it primarily as a period of inevitable decline and loss. Instead, she offers a more holistic and empowering perspective - one that embraces aging as a time of potential growth, meaning, and transformation. While acknowledging the physical realities that come with age, she emphasizes that this stage of life also offers unique opportunities for reflection, wisdom, and deepened relationships. Aging is not merely about what is lost, but also about what can still be discovered. Central to this reimagining is the search for meaning. With many societal roles shifting or ending, older adults are invited to explore new sources of purpose. This can include creativity, mentorship, spiritual inquiry, and service to others.
The talk concludes with a compassionate reflection on the role of death in graceful aging. Rather than viewing it as a failure or something to be feared, death is reframed as a natural culmination of life. Acceptance of mortality, Cooper suggests, can bring peace, clarity, and a renewed appreciation for the present.
Join Elder College members and volunteers for this uplifting session where we will reflect upon the idea that aging gracefully is not about resisting time, but about aligning with its flow—with honesty, dignity, and an open heart.
Elder College hosts this presentation as part of this Fall’s Saturday Speaker Series.
Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Nanoose Place Community Centre, 2925 Northwest Bay Road, Nanoose Bay, BC
$10.00 CASH at the door.
Presenter:
Rachel Cooper earned her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology in the UK before relocating to Canada, where she dedicated over 30 years to teaching Psychology, primarily at Vancouver Island University. Her academic focus included courses such as Lifespan Development, Aging, Death and Dying, and Consciousness, all of which were grounded in themes of personal growth and psychological well-being. Since her retirement in 2019, she has continued to engage in scholarly and personal exploration of spirituality, wellness, and the therapeutic application of psychedelics—particularly as they relate to the expansion of consciousness and the psychological processes surrounding death and dying. She resides on a small farm in Yellow Point with her partner, where they cultivate food and medicinal plants, and find joy in spending time with their grandchildren.