A nice simple definition of positive ageing from the Positive Aging Strategy 2016– 2026, Wingecarribee Shire Council, Australia
https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/uploads/3231/positive-ageing-strategy-2016-2026.pdf
Positive Aging is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age.
It embraces the notion that individuals have opportunities and choices allowing them to maximize independence and control their own lives. Common characteristics of positive and active aging include:
A whole-of-community, whole-of-life, multiple activity approach to ageing;
A broad view of ageing that incorporates the constant aiming for and achievement of maximum quality of life; and
A focus on the opportunities and challenges available to people as they grow older rather than considering ageing as a community problem.
Essentially, positive aging is about people getting the most out of life, remaining fully active, empowered and in control of their lives.
From What is Positive Aging? 10 Tips to Promote the Positive Aspects of Aging on
https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/positive-aging/
What is Positive Aging?
This is an interesting question. Worldwide cultures don’t define it the same way. Those who revere their elders look to them for wisdom and guidance. These cultures don’t see their elders as a burden or hinderance. They respect them.
Other cultures — those who value youth and physical beauty more than the wisdom that can come with age — have a different perspective. Oftentimes, it’s those in this group who choose to fight aging.
Aging is inevitable. We all know this to be true, but as you continue reading, you will learn that some people believe aging is a disease. They believe it’s curable.
For now, though, here are a few current definitions of positive aging.
The UK
A way of living rather than a state of being – http://positiveageing.org.uk/
Australia
“The process of maintaining a positive attitude, feeling good about yourself, keeping fit and healthy, and engaging fully in life as you age”. – Positive Psychology Institute
New Zealand
“Positive aging reflects the attitudes and experiences older people have about themselves and how younger generations view the process of aging. It takes into account the health, financial security, independence, self-fulfillment, personal safety and living environment of older New Zealanders.” – Ministry of Social Development
The U.S.
“Successful aging is multidimensional, encompassing the avoidance of disease and disability, the maintenance of high physical and cognitive function, and sustained engagement in social and productive activities.” – Rowe & Kahn, 1997
World Health Organization (WHO)
“The process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age.”
Japan
“Japanese conceptions of aging are rooted in Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist philosophical traditions that characterize aging as maturity. Old age is thus understood as a socially valuable part of life, even a time of “spring” or “rebirth” after a busy period of working and raising children.” – Karasawa, Curhan, Markus, Kitayama, Love, Radler, & Ryff (2011)
China
“The criteria are sufficiently inclusive, encompassing physical health, mental health, social engagement, and nutritional status, which in principle are in conformity with both the WHO definition and the Rowe and Kahn model.” – Zhou, Liu, & Yu (2018) referencing the Chinese health criteria for the elderly.
Eastern Europe
“Active aging is concerned with facilitating the rights of older people to remain healthy (reducing the costs of health and social care), remain in employment longer (reducing pension costs), while also participating in community and political life.” – Foster & Walker (2015)
Successful aging and active aging aren’t defined the same way worldwide. The former tends to follow the definition put forth by Rowe & Kahn (1997). The latter is akin to a life course-oriented perspective (Foster & Walker, 2015). See the section titled, “Positive Aging Theories” later in this article. Also, note that positive aging is closer to the definition of active aging.
These terms are sometimes used interchangeably. So, it’s good to know where the research originates. Other terms you might read are healthy aging, positive aging, productive aging, and competent aging (Foster & Walker, 2015). Again, each differs in meaning, but successful and active aging dominate the research.
World Health Organization (WHO) Healthy Aging
https://www.who.int/ageing/healthy-ageing/en/
WHO defines Healthy Ageing “as the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age”. Functional ability is about having the capabilities that enable all people to be and do what they have reason to value. This includes a person’s ability to:
- meet their basic needs;
- to learn, grow and make decisions;
- to be mobile;
- to build and maintain relationships; and
- to contribute to society.
Functional ability is made up of the intrinsic capacity of the individual, relevant environmental characteristics and the interaction between them.
Intrinsic capacity comprises all the mental and physical capacities that a person can draw on and includes their ability to walk, think, see, hear and remember. The level of intrinsic capacity is influenced by a number of factors such as the presence of diseases, injuries and age-related changes.
Environments include the home, community and broader society, and all the factors within them such as the built environment, people and their relationships, attitudes and values, health and social policies, the systems that support them and the services that they implement. Being able to live in environments that support and maintain your intrinsic capacity and functional ability is key to Healthy Ageing.
Healthy Ageing is the focus of WHO’s work on ageing between 2015 – 2030. Healthy Ageing replaces the World Health Organization’s previous Active ageing: a policy framework developed in 2002. Healthy Ageing, like Active Ageing, emphasizes the need for action across multiple sectors and enabling older people to remain a resource to their families, communities and economies.
