Aging well in contemporary society

Abstract

Notes that the majority of research on the subject of aging and health reports that most Americans are aging well rather than aging ill and discusses the need to bring the image of aging and reality of aging into better alignment so that professionals and consumers have a more accurate understanding of what it means to age positively. Johnson discusses changes in the aging experience and the meaning of aging well. The roles of social support systems, health and well-being, selective optimization with compensation, and human services professionals in aging well are considered. The major conclusion drawn from the proposed definition of aging well is that there is no single image of this process and outcome because individuals age differently, exist in differing human and physical environments, and have unique personalities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)