The Aging Wisely Project

In a world where many are granted an extended lease on life, how do we make the most of our elder years? 

Journey with two lifelong friends as they embark on a mission to unravel the mysteries of successful aging, as they approach elderhood themselves. Their discoveries become a beacon for anyone seeking purpose and fulfillment in later years. 

Delve into a jargon-free exploration of psychoanalysis, combined with the latest findings on aging, to bring elderhood into sharp focus. What are its challenges? And more importantly, what are the skills required to navigate them?

Witness the inspirational life stories of 52 elders interviewed during the turbulent times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their tales serve as a testament to the unique trajectories that lead us to our golden years. 

Building upon Erik Erikson’s iconic human development model, the authors introduce a groundbreaking 9^th stage of potential growth: Elder Identity Revision. Understand the tasks that await in elderhood and acquire the indispensable tools to face them head-on. 

With many of today’s elders experiencing up to 25 more years of life in good physical and cognitive condition than past generations, the urgency to lead a purposeful, impactful, and fulfilling elderhood has never been greater. Fueling this insightful journey is the authors’ unwavering belief that it’s never too late to evolve, to grow, and to make every moment count. Dive in and redefine what it means to age wisely. Along the way, discover how to contribute to the world around you and develop the skills required to successfully complete your one and only life cycle.

Ben Green, MD, has been fascinated by the psychological development of humans since his time at Yale College. He then worked as a hospital-based and later office-based psychiatrist for 40 years, treating both children and adults. 20 years ago, he became a child and adult psychoanalyst and is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Health Science Center. He has been teaching and supervising psychiatric residents for four decades. Dr. Green has served as President of the Colorado Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society and the Denver Psychoanalytic Society. He has also taught high school math in Congo-Kinshasa for a year and spent a year at Yale Divinity School. Dr. Green has had a longstanding interest in religion, humanistic-existential psychology, and issues related to aging, meaning, and mortality. He has been delivering community lectures on these subjects for many years. Based in Denver, CO, Dr. Green is happily married and has three daughters and a recently born grandson.

Scott Fisher, is deeply interested in understanding the factors that motivate people and the different ways they achieve their career and life objectives. He holds a BS degree in Organizational Behavior and an MA in Organization and Management from Yale University. Throughout his career, he has held various executive positions in different corporations and industries, leading human resources organizations to support rapid growth and employee engagement. As a consultant and executive coach for over 25 years, he has worked with CEOs and their teams on strategy development and implementation, change management, culture assessment, and leadership development. He has also taught graduate-level strategic human resources management and change management courses to MBA students at the University of Colorado/Denver School of Business for 12 years. Scott currently resides in Denver, CO, is an avid but mediocre golfer, and plans to spend as much time as possible traveling and making the most of every day with his wife Bev.