TY - JOUR
T1 - Can Successful Aging and Chronic Illness Coexist in the Same Individual? A Multidimensional Concept of Successful Aging
AU - Young, Yuchi
AU - Frick, Kevin D.
AU - Phelan, Elizabeth A.
PY - 2009/2
Y1 - 2009/2
N2 - For the past 4 decades, many studies seeking to develop a definition and identify critical determinants of successful aging have been published. To date, there is still no consensus on a standard definition or measure of "successful aging." Most constructs have been one dimensional; although a few have been multidimensional, none has emerged as standard. The most serious limitation of contemporary successful aging constructs is the undue focus on physiologic aspects of aging. To move beyond this limited perspective that stresses disease and impairment, we postulate that successful aging may coexist with diseases and functional limitations if compensatory psychological and/or social mechanisms are used. With this premise, this article presents a new definition and conceptual framework of successful aging, together with an operational definition (measurement) that delineates our successful aging concept. We discuss how the proposed multidimensional measurement may be used as a screening tool, and address its relevance for health services research and health care delivery.
AB - For the past 4 decades, many studies seeking to develop a definition and identify critical determinants of successful aging have been published. To date, there is still no consensus on a standard definition or measure of "successful aging." Most constructs have been one dimensional; although a few have been multidimensional, none has emerged as standard. The most serious limitation of contemporary successful aging constructs is the undue focus on physiologic aspects of aging. To move beyond this limited perspective that stresses disease and impairment, we postulate that successful aging may coexist with diseases and functional limitations if compensatory psychological and/or social mechanisms are used. With this premise, this article presents a new definition and conceptual framework of successful aging, together with an operational definition (measurement) that delineates our successful aging concept. We discuss how the proposed multidimensional measurement may be used as a screening tool, and address its relevance for health services research and health care delivery.
KW - Successful aging concept
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=58849162326&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=58849162326&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jamda.2008.11.003
DO - 10.1016/j.jamda.2008.11.003
M3 - Review article
C2 - 19187875
AN - SCOPUS:58849162326
SN - 1525-8610
VL - 10
SP - 87
EP - 92
JO - Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
JF - Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
IS - 2
ER -