Determining the importance and feasibility of various aspects of healthy ageing among older adults using concept mapping

Abstract

Research shows that healthy ageing is defined differently by older adults and researchers, who may put more or less weight on the physiological, psychological, societal and personal aspects of ageing. Although there is growing interest in the research literature on lay models of healthy ageing in socio-cultural context, little work has been done to determine how important or feasible the various components of healthy ageing are viewed to be by older adults. This study asked a convenience sample of 54 older adults in the circumpolar North to rate the importance and feasibility of 36 previously identified components of healthy ageing in their community. Results indicate that seniors in the sample place the most importance on aspects of the social and physical environment, while least important concepts included psychological and individual behaviours. However, most feasible aspects were individual behaviours and least feasible were aspects of the social and physical environment. Although older adults are able to construct a model of what healthy ageing should look like in their community, they do not always view the most important aspects of healthy ageing to be the most feasible to achieve, providing ample opportunity for public and social policy change.

Convivir (to Coexist) and Other Insights: Results From the Positive Aging for Latinos Study

“…However, this study yielded perceptions from those who have the most at stake in how positive/successful aging should be defined. Future studies should examine to what extent Latino older adults believe it is possible to modify and adopt aspects of positive aging defined by this study, as Howell et al (2020) showed. Studies that prioritize the perceptions of older adults may be a fertile ground for innovative person-centered interventions that facilitate positive/successful aging, as defined by the older adults themselves.…”

“…Likewise, Howell et al (2021) used concept mapping to developed a locally contextualized definition of healthy aging among older adults living in the circumpolar North and in a later study, they asked participants to rank key components by importance and feasibility. Howell et al (2020) found that older adults ranked environmental features such as sidewalks with curb cuts as important, but less feasible than psychological and behavioral aspects of healthy aging. Taken together, these studies show how a structured mixed-methods approach could generate a comprehensive and nuanced understanding for how older adults define positive aging for themselves (Windsor, 2013).…”

Do Latino Older Adults and Service Providers Agree on Positive Aging? Using Concept Mapping to Compare Perspectives

“…Future studies should examine to what extent service providers and Latino older adults believe it is possible to modify and adopt aspects of positive aging, in the same way other concept mapping studies have considered feasibility and ease of implementation with diverse older adults ( Ahmad et al, 2022 ; Busija et al, 2018 ; Howell et al, 2022 ). In keeping with attribution theory, some aspects of positive aging might be considered important but also unchangeable or outside of one’s control (i.e., increasing income).…”