TThe world Health Organization (2002) describes growth in the number of older people as “one of the humanity greatest triumphs” as well as “one of our greatest challenges”. The proportional growth of geriatric population in comparison to total population (described as graying of the world’s population) is a global phenomenon. In Australia, elderly population aged 65 and above currently accounts for 13% of total population which is estimated to be projected around 25% by 2056. The group aged 85 years and over is estimated to expand from 1.6% to 7.3% by 2056 (Australian Bureau and Statistics, 2008). With ageing population the demographic pattern of death and disease will change and mental disorders could feature as prominent chronic conditions
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The aging process constitutes of gradual decline in physiological vigour and an increased susceptibility to age related disease. The protean content of “successful aging” emerged in the middle of twentieth century. The work of MacArthur Foundation Research Network on successful aging provided a basis for changing the manner in which aging is viewed. Prior to this aging was viewed mainly in two dimensional aspects as either pathological or non-pathological; that is, older person with disease or without disease. Old age used to be viewed as process of decline that concluded with disengagement from the world soon after an individual’s working life had come to an end. Such views gave rise to ageist stereotypes that continue to be pervasive today and that impact the negativity on the lives of older people. Successful aging is multidimensional process and Rowe and Kahn’s model is arguably the most widely recognized and accepted approach to understand successful aging. This model has proposed three indicators of successful ageing which includes low probability of disease and disease related disability, high cognitive and physical functional capacity and active engagement with life. These three criteria’s for successful ageing has been conceptualized by number of studies. According to Rowe and Kahn, the loss of any of these three factors means that individual deviates from the usual path of successful aging or to the various paths of …show more content…
(2012) has labelled five factors for successful ageing which includes, self related successful ageing, cognition, psychosocial protective factors, physical functioning, and emotional functioning. Iwamasa et al. (2011) developed new multi-dimensional model for successful ageing which constitutes of following factors: physical health, psychological health, cognitive functioning, socialization, spirituality, and financial security. This new model was compared with Rowe and Kahn’s and Phelan et al. frameworks of successful ageing and was concluded to be more comprehensive than existing models and incorporates socio-cultural aspects. Schachter-Shalomi and Miller (1995) and Tornstam (2005) have also put forward potentially interesting alternative models of ageing that have a strong focus on the spiritual dimensions of the ageing process. Parker and colleagues expanded Rowe and Kahn’s model incorporating religiously based spirituality, while Mackinlay and Trevitt have argued for alternative model using the concept of ‘spiritual journey’, thus avoiding the inherently negative connotations of success versus implied failure
The aging process constitutes of gradual decline in physiological vigour and an increased susceptibility to age related disease. The protean content of “successful aging” emerged in the middle of twentieth century. The work of MacArthur Foundation Research Network on successful aging provided a basis for changing the manner in which aging is viewed. Prior to this aging was viewed mainly in two dimensional aspects as either pathological or non-pathological; that is, older person with disease or without disease. Old age used to be viewed as process of decline that concluded with disengagement from the world soon after an individual’s working life had come to an end. Such views gave rise to ageist stereotypes that continue to be pervasive today and that impact the negativity on the lives of older people. Successful aging is multidimensional process and Rowe and Kahn’s model is arguably the most widely recognized and accepted approach to understand successful aging. This model has proposed three indicators of successful ageing which includes low probability of disease and disease related disability, high cognitive and physical functional capacity and active engagement with life. These three criteria’s for successful ageing has been conceptualized by number of studies. According to Rowe and Kahn, the loss of any of these three factors means that individual deviates from the usual path of successful aging or to the various paths of …show more content…
(2012) has labelled five factors for successful ageing which includes, self related successful ageing, cognition, psychosocial protective factors, physical functioning, and emotional functioning. Iwamasa et al. (2011) developed new multi-dimensional model for successful ageing which constitutes of following factors: physical health, psychological health, cognitive functioning, socialization, spirituality, and financial security. This new model was compared with Rowe and Kahn’s and Phelan et al. frameworks of successful ageing and was concluded to be more comprehensive than existing models and incorporates socio-cultural aspects. Schachter-Shalomi and Miller (1995) and Tornstam (2005) have also put forward potentially interesting alternative models of ageing that have a strong focus on the spiritual dimensions of the ageing process. Parker and colleagues expanded Rowe and Kahn’s model incorporating religiously based spirituality, while Mackinlay and Trevitt have argued for alternative model using the concept of ‘spiritual journey’, thus avoiding the inherently negative connotations of success versus implied failure