GERO 320 WEEK 7 RESPONSE 1

GERO320 DISCUSSION RESPONSE

Tia James - Successful Aging?

 

Tiandra James posted Dec 3, 2023 17:13

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While I thoroughly enjoyed reading this week's learning content, I am not any more certain that there "should" be an actual definition for "successful aging". I believe that the term is far too multi-faceted to define. Successful aging can mean something different for each of the 8 billion+ people on Earth. For example, successful aging for me means that I am able to take care of myself and meet my own physical needs until the end of my life. For my husband, he is more interested in the financial aspect. He would be just as happy not being able to take care of himself, as long as he can afford to pay for great medical care. 

Rowe and Kahns' attempt at defining successful aging may have been acceptable over 35 years ago. Things have evolved in society with how we interact with disability and physical health. In today's society, accommodations for people with disabilities make it possible for people to live more accessible and unhindered lives. I agree with the findings cited by Bengtson & Richard Settersten, where the definition of successful aging is shifting to a more well-rounded concept, instead of focusing on the physical aspects of an older adult (p. 543).  As for Toomeys' connection between "ikigai" and successful aging, I find no need to connect the idea of a purpose-driven life with successful aging. One of the hardest questions to ask anyone trekking through life is, "What are you here for?" or "What is your purpose?" I do not feel like I have a set purpose at this very moment, (35 years old) and I may never put one together. But based on what aging successfully means to me individual, it is still very possible for me to achieve that absent an overall purpose in life. 

Bengtson, V. L., & Richard Settersten, J. (2016). Successful Aging. In  Handbook of theories of aging (3rd ed., p. 543). Springer Publishing Company.

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