The pursuit of happiness

What makes you happy? That’s the question we asked older Western Australians as part of Juniper’s commissioned study by CoreData WA … and the answers revealed some interesting insights into what brings joy and fulfillment as we age.

For older Western Australians, happiness is rooted in relationships, staying active, and giving back to others.

Perhaps not surprisingly, family is the number one priority when it comes to happiness. A whopping 71% say spending time with their family is essential to their well-being.

After that, socialising with friends (59%), staying active with exercise (57%), and engaging in hobbies or activities that bring meaning (56%) are also top of the list. Caring for family members (50%) is also a source of happiness for many.

While not as high on the list, other factors like volunteering (30%), religious or spiritual faith (23%), travel (22%), and outings within the local community (21%) still play a role in people’s happiness.

When asked about their happiness in specific areas of life, the results were mixed. More than half (56%) say they’re extremely happy with their mental health, but only 24% feel the same about their physical health. On a positive note, 54% are

happy with their standard of living, and 53% feel good about their personal safety.

Interestingly, women tend to be happier with their friendships and sense of community, while men are more satisfied with their personal safety and sense of purpose.

Maintaining good health, independence, and strong relationships are all crucial to happiness, but declining health, pain, and mobility issues are significant barriers.

As people age though, things change. While most people in their 70s still see their family regularly, that drops for those in their 80s. Additionally, nearly three in five people in their 80s are not exercising as much as they’d like.

Despite these challenges, many older Western Australians are still finding joy in their lives, scoring 67.9 out of 100 on Juniper’s 2024 Happiness Index.

Ageing is not without its challenges. But it’s clear that strong relationships, good health and a sense of purpose all play a huge part in ensuring happiness later in life.