Growing Old With Style
To answer the question 'What is successful ageing?', Bowling and Dieppe (2005) proposed that we pay attention to the things that really matter to older adults. For the authors, this included actually surveying a group of 854 older adults in Britain to find out how they defined successful ageing. The list below firstly presents the biomedical and psychosocial constituents of successful ageing, then gives the additional 'lay definitions' provided by the individuals who took part in the survey.
- Life expectancy
- Life satisfaction and wellbeing (includes happiness and contentment)
- Mental and psychological health, cognitive function
- Personal growth, learning new things
- Physical health and functioning, independent functioning
- Psychological characteristics and resources, including perceived autonomy, control, independence, adaptability, coping, self esteem, positive outlook, goals, sense of self
- Social, community, leisure activities, integration and participation
- Social networks, support, participation, activity
Additional lay definitions
- Accomplishments
- Enjoyment of diet
- Financial security
- Neighbourhood
- Physical appearance
- Productivity and contribution to life
- Sense of humour
- Sense of purpose
- Spirituality
(Bowling & Dieppe, 2005, p.1549)
Choose one 'lay definition' which you think is particularly important for successful ageing and write it down. On the next page you will discuss why you chose it.