A Successful Aging Project: Pooling University and Community Resources

Abstract

1. In successful aging, the effects of aging are minimized by such extrinsic factors as nutrition, exercise, stress management, and social support. 2. Mutual and individual goal setting was encouraged at the outset of the successful aging sessions. The most frequently mentioned goals were learning more about health, staying well, feeling well, and helping others to be well. 3. A nonjudgmental attitude toward previous knowledge or lifestyle was prevalent. By tapping formal and informal community resources to deliver a program of health promotion, the project maximized cooperation within an aging services network.

Definition of Successful Aging by Elderly Canadian Males: The Manitoba Follow-Up Study

“…The study by Lentzner, Pamuk, Rhodenhiser, Rothenberg, and Powell-Griner (1992) examined quality of life in the year before death as a potentially important measure of the success or failure of life expectancy gains. Many studies (Echevarria, Ross, Bezon, & Flow, 1991;Morley, Mooradian, Silver, Heber, & Alfin-Slater, 1988;Nelson & Franzi 1989;Nolan & Blass 1992) report that change in diet and lifestyle may enhance cognitive functioning and hence support successful aging.…”