What makes older West Australians smile?

What makes you smile? That’s the question we asked over 100 attendees at the juniper stand at this year’s Ageing Well Expo, and they certainly came up with some great answers.

The activity invited visitors to write a word or two on a board, capturing one thing that brought them joy. What came back was a lovely list of everyday pleasures, tea, gardening, dancing, bowls and time with friends.

The question proved to be a great conversation starter, offering Juniper staff a glimpse into the lives of the older West Australians who attended the expo, and what makes them light up. Juniper Transition Care Program Navigator John Sillah said it’s the simplest way to connect with people, and as Juniper works to provide person-centred care across all its services, it’s often the best way to start getting to know someone.

“My favourite answer so far has been a good cup of coffee, a good cake and a good book,” said John. “That alone tells you that the simplest things make people smile, and that’s really important to know.”

Turns out the attendees were a social bunch. Family topped the list, with 32% giving an answer related to loved ones, closely followed by another 32% who pointed to socialising and time with friends. Hobbies and activities they loved accounted for 27% of responses, while 9% said exercise was what made them smile.

The results reflect findings from Juniper’s Voice of Older Western Australians research, built in partnership with independent market research consultancy CoreData WA, which found that spending time with family, socialising with friends and taking part in meaningful hobbies and activities are what older Western Australians rate as most essential to their happiness. The full findings are available in the Voice of Older Western Australians White Paper here.

The activity was as much about the conversation as the answers themselves. Asking what makes someone smile, and listening to the answer, is often the simplest way to begin understanding what someone’s care should look like for them, and it offers a small window into what the older West Australians we support value.