What matters to you as you age? The answer is not the same for everyone. Yet many ideas are shared by most people. Over the years, experts in aging have defined “successful aging” in various ways. Older views emphasized being free from illness or disability. However, this is not a realistic goal for everyone. Even thinking about being “successful” is not very useful.
Newer ideas focus on what helps us feel engaged with life, every day. Each of us needs to have a sense of purpose, even if that purpose changes through retirement, kids leaving the home (or coming back), changes in health and abilities, or losses of loved ones.
Each of us needs connections with people we care about—and people who care about us—even if our families and social networks change over time.
How do you adapt to changes?
In fact, resilience—the ability to flow with life’s changes—is a key to aging well. How do you adapt if you develop an illness or disability? Or if you run into a financial challenge or need to move to a new home? As our health, families, work, living environments, and social networks change, we are challenged to respond.
“No one is immune to the challenges of aging,” says Jennifer Schrack in the Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Magazineopens a new window, but she says that we can accept our changing circumstances. We can find new ways to adapt and find satisfaction at every stage of living.
Aging without fear
Our society places pressure on us to stay young, look young, and act young. But we are not all young, and every stage of life has its rewards. Schrack comments, “Aging is not something to be feared. It is not a disease.” Older adults have enjoyed years of experiences, and many have refined their life skills, insights, and wisdom accordingly. It is fair to take pride in that.
Later in this blog series, we’ll explore attitudes towards aging and older adults. Spoiler alert: You can choose to reject any “old person” stereotypes you encounter. Keeping a positive mindset around aging supports your health and helps you age well!
What’s important?
Aging specialists have theorized about aging well and have also asked many older adults what is important to them as they age. Many of us value:
- Remaining independent and in control of our lives
- Connecting with others
- Doing something that is important to us
- Enjoying creative or fun activities
- Staying active and productive in meaningful ways
- Feeling satisfied and engaged with life
- Having financial security
- Enjoying personal growth & learning new things
- Having the best possible physical, mental, cognitive, and spiritual health
How this picture comes together is influenced by the sum total of circumstances in your life so far. These can include things like your family, your upbringing, your social circles, your economic situation, your environment, education, and access to healthcare through the years. Aging doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Some factors may be beyond our control. Others are not. Each of us has a unique background. Each of us can chart our own path forward to aging well.
A focus on wellness
Throughout our lives, we make choices that affect our well-being. To age well, we can think about wellness, taking control to build a personal approach to well-being. Health experts recognize eight dimensions of wellness:
- Physical health: protecting physical health through attention to physical activity, nutrition, sleep, health screenings, and other forms of self-care
- Mental health: having a positive attitude, acknowledging feelings, coping with challenges, and seeking support when it’s needed
- Environmental wellness: living in an environment that supports safe and healthy living
- Financial wellness: feeling secure that you have the resources you need
- Cognitive wellness: using your mind to engage with your world and learn new things
- Occupational wellness: using your skills and talents to contribute something that is meaningful to you
- Social wellness: enjoying a network of friends and community; having caring relationships with others
- Spiritual health: finding meaning in your life with or without organized religion
There are countless ways to pursue wellness. One person who uses a wheelchair may decide to take up chair yoga to promote physical health. Another may begin volunteering to promote occupational wellness. Yet another may join a support group for caregivers to support mental health while caring for a family member. Someone else may join a book club to promote cognitive wellness.
All these aspects of wellness can be meaningful, but this is not a checklist or a to-do list. Ask yourself what matters to you. In this blog series, you will find information and ideas you can put to work in many aspects of wellness. You can be aware of the many ways to take care of your own well-being and set your own goals on your journey to aging well.
In summary
There is no single right way to age well. The years of our lives can bring new rewards as well as new challenges. You can find what gives you meaning and satisfaction in life every day, and stay connected with others. You can take the time to think about what you value in your life, and you can tend to your own wellness on many dimensions as you age.
Sources:
- Hawkins, B. A. (2005). Aging well: toward a way of life for all people. Prev Chronic Dis.
- Bowling, A. & Dieppe, P. (2005). What is successful aging and who should define it? British Medical Journal.
- National Institute on Aging (2022). What do we know about healthy aging?opens a new window
- Stowe, J.D. & T. M. Cooney (2015). Examining Row and Kahn’s concept of successful aging: importance of taking a life course perspective. The Gerontologist.
- Waddell, C. et al. (2024). From successful ageing to ageing well: a narrative review. The Gerontologist.
- Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging (2024). Age Well.
