When filmmaker Rohan Sprong interviewed three seniors living in a New York artists’ housing community, his subjects came as a surprise.
Within the first five minutes of Winter at Westbeth, 81-year-old poet Ilsa is reading a poem into a megaphone from the rooftop and Edith, a fellow Westbeth resident in her mid-90s, is teaching herself filmmaking.
“The biggest preconception I had going into the film was that these older characters wouldn’t want to try something new,” Rohan said.
He quickly discovered the age of his subjects has never stopped them from leading colourful, adventurous lives.
Rather, each artist has found fulfilment and richness in their later years and in their unique community.
“Each of them has an enormous capacity and drive to learn new things and find new forms of expression.
“There’s hope for us all yet!”
The vibrant Greenwich Village community where Rohan’s documentary is set seems a world away from an ordinary retirement village like RetireAustralia’s Murray Gardens.
Yet their residents have much in common.
One Murray Gardens resident, Abraham, just published his first book at the age of 91.
“I didn’t have any free time until I retired in 1999 and I’ve been writing busily ever since!” he said.
For some, retirement is about having the time and opportunity to explore new hobbies, while others flourish within a network of people at the same stage of life.
“I’ve certainly observed that residents of Westbeth remain independent longer as a result of the sense of community that surrounds them,” Rohan said.
“They naturally check in on one another and share meals and activities.”
The same is true of retirement villages, according to a 2014 Grant Thornton report: on average, residents stay healthier for longer, participate in more social activities and report increased happiness and overall wellbeing.
It’s no secret the communities people forge make them happier and more connected.
In later years, the benefits are endless.
Like Murray Gardens and Westbeth, retirement villages can be lively, social environments where new chapters begin, regardless of age.
“I have a lot of projects I still want to do,” Edith said in Winter at Westbeth.
“That is what keeps life exciting!”
Winter at Westbeth is available now from most major DVD retailers. Visit winteratwestbeth.com for details.