Title

Toward a more comprehensive concept of successful aging: Disability and care needs

Authors

·       Tesch-Romer C.^a,

·       Wahl H.-W.^b

Author Affiliations

·       ^a German Centre of Gerontology, Manfred-von-Richthofen-Strasse 2, Berlin, 12101, Germany

·       ^b Department for Psychological Ageing Research, Institute of Psychology, Heidelberg University, Germany

Publication Information

Gerontological Society of America

Date of Publication

1 March 2017

Series/Report no.

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, Volume 72, Issue 2

Key words

Extension of aging with disability, Extension of life expectancy, Rowe & Kahn’s model of successful aging, Strategies, Interindividual differences, Social inequality, Visionary component of aging

Abstract

Rowe and Kahn’s model of Successful Aging 2.0 argues that changing environmental settings, societal policies, and individual life styles will lead to a significant extension of healthy life years. Recent epidemiological research, however, confirms the dilemma that the ongoing extension of life expectancy prolongs not only the years in good health but also those in poor health. We see it as a major limitation that Rowe and Kahn’s model is not able to cover the emerging linkage between increasing life expectation and aging with disability and care needs. Therefore, we suggest a set of propositions towards a more comprehensive model of successful aging which captures desirable living situations including for those who grow old with disabilities and care needs. We describe individual, environmental, and care related strategies and resources for autonomy and quality of life when facing disabilities and care needs in late life, putting emphasis on inter-individual differences and social inequality. We argue that expanding the traditional concept of successful aging to aging with disabilities and care needs serves not to undermine, but rather to anchor the concept in aging science and in public perception.

주요 내용

Rowe and Kahn’s model of Successful Aging 2.0은 환경, 사회 정책, 개인 라이프 스타일의 변화에 따라 수명이 상당히 증가할 것이라고 주장한다. 그러나 최근의 역학조사에서는 이러한 수명 증가가 건강한 사람들뿐 아니라 건강하지 못 한 사람의 수명 역시 증가시킬 것이라는 딜레마를 확인시켜 주고 있다. 따라서, Rowe와 Kahn의 모델은 증가하는 수명 기대치와 장애 및 보살핌이 필요한 노령층 사이의 새로운 연관성을 다룰 수 없다는 것이 주요 한계로 지적된다고 볼 수 있다. 이 글은 장애와 돌봄이 필요한 노인에 대해, 개인의 자율성과 삶의 질 제고를 위한 환경 관련 돌봄 및 전략 자원을 설명한다.

ISSN

10795014

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbw162