This paper sets out to present definitions of successful aging as defined by a range of research schemes and by various authors and how successful aging can be achieved. It intends to simply identify and present in a highly summarized manner, the many definitions of successful aging that have been theorized over the past 30 to 40 years. In addition, it will offer justification for exploring the public’s definition (mainly older people) of successful aging and how it can be achieved. The purpose of this paper is to address the following questions? 1. What is successful aging? 2. How can successful aging be achieved?
What is successful aging? Although the term successful aging is extensively used in gerontology there exist no definite or agreed-upon definition of the term and way of measuring or assessing successful aging. A wide range of literature exists which gives various definitions of successful aging; this generally reflects the educational discipline of the researchers. The thought of successful aging is dated back in 44 BC. Ciero jotted down a dissertation on the qualities of good aging (Jarcho, 1971).
The studies of successful aging are broadly categorized into two: the first one is biomedical models which stress on the physical and psychological performance as successful aging; and the second one socio-psychological model which gives emphasis to the social performance, life fulfillment and psychological resources as successful aging. A number of studies also recognize these issues as the heralds of successful aging. In addition, studies demonstrate that the older generation regard themselves to be among the successfully aged people in the society.
Another smaller number of studies have investigated lay views, and many of the studies have been investigative or constrained to definite groups of areas. Thus, a clear and concise model of successful aging ought to be a multi-dimensional. The gap that exist in lay viewpoint for social implication, and use a range rather than dichotomous cut-offs for "success" and lack of, and differentiate evidently between predictor and ingredient variables. According to literature evaluated in the biomedical theories, successful aging is distinct in reference to optimization of the life expectation while at the same time tumbling the physical and mental deterioration and disability.
The biomedical theories exclusively tackle the deficiency of chronic illness and danger issues for the illness: that can be termed as good health conditions; this has elevated levels of independent bodily performance, performance mobility, and cognitive performance” (Bowling & Dieppe, 2005). A number of major biomedical studies of successful aging such as MacArthur studies of successful aging have established the foundation of biomedical studies on the topic (Seeman et al., 1994) in places where there have been dichotomous investigations of the aged in the society and the elderly ordinary populace.
Nevertheless, the groupings of individuals into either the diseased or the normal do not openly appreciate the quantity of heterogeneity that exists between these groups. To appreciate the quantity of heterogeneity that existed between these groups Rowe and Kahn (1987 cited in Bowling & Dieppe, 2005) and differentiated between “usual” aging, which is termed as standard demur in bodily, communal, and cognitive performance with age, augmented by extrinsic issues and “successful” aging in which positive loss is minimized with insignificant or no age associated decrement in physiological and cognitive performance, with exterior issues playing an unbiased or optimistic role.
According to Rowe and Kahn, successful aging is composed of three components the components are: lack of or prevention from diseases, constant upholding of bodily and cognitive performance, and vigorous engagement with life, which may at times include a constant independence and social support (Rowe and Kahn, 1987 cited in Ford et al. 2000).
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