Peggy Regnier, LCSW, presents a talk titled, “Happiness Grows,” at 8:30 a.m. Friday, March 22, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

The American Geriatric Society proposes that happiness keeps growing as people age. And unlike the way popular culture portrays aging in movies and T.V., people actually seem to develop a higher capacity to avoid stress and utilize personal wisdom in making social decisions. This leads to more satisfying relationships and helps people savor enjoyable experiences.

Research shows that happiness levels are quite high in the 20s, but dip through the 30s and reach their lowest point in the mid-forties. After 50, happiness levels again begin to rise well through the 60s. As long as seniors are in fairly good health, 70 year olds and counting are on average as happy and mentally healthy as 20 year olds.

Some psychologists believe this is in part because of the development of cognitive processes that result in the focus and memory of positive events over negative ones. Those processes, they think, help seniors better regulate their emotions, allowing them to view life more positively.

Regnier’s lecture will explore how seniors are particularly well adapted to common challenges in mental well-being often even surpassing younger populations. The discussion will touch upon other aspects of senior mental health such as how older adults are less prone to let the opinions of others affect them, and are not as easily influenced by criticism and peer judgment.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. And it’s not called “Breakfast with the Therapist” for nothing: Participants who attend will also be served a healthy breakfast.

For more information, or to reserve a seat, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040.