Successful Ageing: Exploring Theories, Models, and Approaches

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SUCCESSFUL AGEING
Essay
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Table of Contents
TABLE OF FIGURES.....................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Rowe and Kahn Model....................................................................................................5
Figure 2: Batles SOC Model...........................................................................................................7
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INTRODUCTION
This essay portrays the concept of successful ageing by providing an insight into the
perception of the ageing including the glimpse of the history the same in last years. There are
several theories, models and concepts that are basically based on environmental, psychological
and biological life stage approaches which describe the ageing. In addition to this there are
several factors which demonstrate the influence of the factors associated with the ageing on
ageing of an individual. The essay also includes the different ways based on the aforementioned
approaches to accomplish a successful ageing.
DISCUSSION
Background
The term successful ageing has become quite popular in last decades as people have
become concerned about the ageing and they just want to know what to avoid and what to
expect. The term doesn’t have any particular definition but it could be explained via different
approaches such as it occurs when all the factors work equally and successful ageing could be
defined as freedom from disability and diseases (Cosco, et al., 2014). In addition to this, World
Health Organization (WHO) has described successful ageing as the process to maintain the
functional diseases and disability in order to accomplish the wellbeing or good health in elder
age. The different factors that Influence the ageing are environmental factors, lifespan factors,
psychological factors, biological factors and many more. Out of which biological factors refer to
the factors associated with the physical health of an individual while the psychological factors
include occupation, lifespan approaches, loneliness etc. (Stranahan and Mattson, 2012)
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A brief history
The concept of successful ageing was not explored before 1960 because people used to
think ageing means demolishment of the life of a person. However, the concept of successful
ageing was firstly coined by Havighurst in 1961, according to which successful ageing was a
part of gerontology and it was based on a person’s satisfaction towards the people and life
(Martinson and Berridge, 2014). The author didn’t focus more on other factors but they were
more focused on satisfaction of an individual towards their lives. Further after a decade in 1972,
Neugarten has added the coping abilities and personality factors as an important part of
successful ageing while a Macarthur network has been established in 1984 in which was focused
on factors such as lack of diseases, social engagement, cognitive functions and positive ageing
which was coined by Kahn and Rowe. Finally in 1987, the term successful ageing term was
introduced and it has been differentiated from normal ageing by Kahn and Rowe (Arai et al.,
2015).
Models and approaches of ageing
There are different approaches and models which demonstrate the successful ageing and
factors related to that. Those factors and approaches are mentioned below:
BIOMEDICAL APPROACH:-
Basically this approach focuses on the physical functioning of an individual including
mental health and it is completely based on the biological perspective. This approach was
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established by Rowe and Kahn and it is based on that model only (Rattan, 2013). The Rowe and
Kahn model is described below:
Figure 1: Rowe and Kahn Model
[Source: Ahmad et al., 2015]
Authors have demonstrated the successful ageing on the basis of three factors including
social engagement, absence of diseases and cognitive and physical functioning. Factors of the
model are:
Absence of disease: the factor involves effective physical health without any disease (Ahmad et
al., 2015)
Cognitive and physical functioning: it involves the behavior of an individual towards live and
physical activity of the same including cognitive functioning (Ahmad et al., 2015)
Social engagement: this factor is related to the mental health of an individual which includes the
ability of an individual to socially engage and of having a social network which is related to the
mental health of an individual. It is experienced that people with good social network have
effective mental health (Rattan, 2013)
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PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH
This approach majorly considers the different psychological factors such as loneliness,
relationship, leisure time; occupation etc. major factors associated with the psychological
approach are described below:
Depression and loneliness: majorly individuals who are not satisfied with their life or people
who face trouble in relationship or at work are led to the depression or loneliness. In addition to
this, excess stress of work or other thing may also result in depression and unsatisfied life which
heavily affect the ageing. Depression also makes people lonely and generates feeling of being
away from society (Bowling and Iliffe, 2011).
Relationship: it has been evident that a healthy and good relationship leads to more satisfied and
happy life. In addition to this, relationship plays an important role in successful ageing and
people live more effective life if good and healthy relationship is maintained (Villar, 2012).
Leisure time: when a person gets older, it becomes essential for him/her to spend time on the
things that are loveable to them or they like to do the same. Additionally, when people gets older
they need to spend time on activities they love or make them happy such as cooking, fishing etc.
(Villar, 2012).
Occupation: it is one of the most important factors which may affect the ageing because it is
essential to have job satisfaction and peaceful mind at work. Unsatisfied wok life and excessive
pressure at work may lead to stress which directly affect the mental as well as physical health
(Stuart-Hamilton, 2012).
Education: studies and researches have shown that a well-educated and knowledgeable person
spends a more satisfied and effective life than the people who have poor educational background
and is illiterate (Stuart-Hamilton, 2012). People with less education have to face several
problems in the way people treat them and behave. However, education is helpful in several
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aspects such as growing, leaning and experiencing different aspects that definitely shape their
thinking and help in successful ageing (Stuart-Hamilton, 2012).
The psychological approach can be understood with the help of “Bowling model” mentioned
below:
The bowling model includes different factors described below:
Coping: coping with different struggles is very much important for successful ageing (Bowling
and Iliffe, 2011).
Adaption: in addition to coping, adapting different types of lifestyle and also being adjusted
with the people of different age group is essential for successful ageing (Paúl, et al., 2012).
Self-actualization: it is stage when an individual gets satisfied with the life and work to
maintain the same
Independence and autonomy: lastly, it is very much important to take responsibility and make
decisions alone for a successful ageing because these things lead to satisfaction in life (Bowling
and Iliffe, 2011).
Furthermore, there is one more model which is termed as “life span model” which demonstrates
the ageing via different steps of life and also it assesses influence of the same on a person. This
could be easily understood by Baltes SOC model includes three factors which is described
below:
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Selection
Optimization
Compensation

Figure 2: Batles SOC Model
[Source: Nosraty, 2018]
Selection: it includes electing a specific goal or creating a purpose to live (Nosraty, 2018)
Optimization: it includes working to achieve that particular goal or fulfill the purpose as well
(Nosraty, 2018)
Compensation: lastly this factors deals the losses that are occurred due to the process of
achieving a goal and includes compensating the same (Nosraty, 2018)
PROACTIVE APPROACH
This approach refers to the preventive approach which is very much helpful in reducing
the stress for achieving successful ageing. The proactive approach could be understood with PCP
model which is emphasized on improvising the quality of life (Kahana et al., 2012). This model
focuses on the people with social loss and stress which help in releasing stress and improvising
quality of life. The PCP model also suggests implementation of different precautions and
measures to enhance the quality of life (Kahana et al., 2012).
Theories of successful ageing
Different theories of successful ageing are mentioned below:
Continuity theory
The theory was developed in 1971 by Atchell, according to which people who get older
adopt the same activities from their younger age such as relationship, activities and behavior. In
addition to this, it includes ageing to be continuous with previous life stages and experiences
(Minhat et al., 2013).
Activity theory
This theory has been proposed by Havinghurst in year 1961 which shows that the older
people who are more active are more satisfied towards life. In addition to this, the theory put
stress on the fact the social activity helps in delaying the ageing and improves the life quality
(Adams et al., 2011).
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Disengagement theory
This theory reflects the disengagement between the people who are old and society which
demonstrates the ageing is inevitable, disengagement or mutual withdrawal between the
individual and people in social system he/she belongs (Jylhä and Saarenheimo, 2010).
CONCLUSION
From the aforementioned approaches, theories and models, it could be concluded that he
successful ageing could be accomplished with the help of single model or theory as it requires all
the factors work together equally and effectively. Proactive, biomedical and psychological
models of ageing reflect the way by which one can effectively achieve successful ageing.
Moreover, it requires all the factors to work effectively and in good manner to achieve the
successful ageing in life.
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