Gelingendes Alter

Abstract

Age: an annoying burden or a priceless gain? The ancient physicians differentiated between senium and senectus to describe old age. In modern-day terminology, the former corresponds to the deficit model, the latter to the competence model of old age. Its success or failure is dependent on biological, psychological, social and mental determinants. In the first part, these four determinants will be compared from the perspectives of competence and deficit, success and failure. The second part will outline selected meaningful aspects of the art of living that are relevant for successful ageing, namely, an awareness for the transient nature of life, attention to life, conciliation with oneself, F. Nietzsche's higher state of health, attention to god and humor.