Promoting social capital in an ageing society: a win-win proposition?

Is Aging a Disease? A Critical Review Within the Framework of Ageism

“…(2011) in a study carried out on a sample of the non-dependent Spanish population of 55 to 75 years, showed that said population is contributing to society with its productive unpaid activities of about 106 billion Euros (adult and child caregiving; shopping, purchasing; personal/household administrative management and messages; household work; handwork; and formal volunteering) [52]; (iv) lack of recognition of the human and social capital that the elderly population represents to achieve and maintain healthy aging [53,54]; (v) lack of opportunities for human development during aging and old age [55,56].…”

Living in an Age of Longevity: Enduring Insights and Perspectives for Embarking on a Quest for Health and Well-Being in Later Life

“…Carried out inappropriately, it may delay seeking care when medical care is needed or actually result in over use of the medical care system for trivial symptoms. (p. 160) With an extension in life expectancy there will be an array of opportunities for older people to contribute to family, community and society, however, the ability to take advantage of the opportunities will be very much dependent upon health and overall functional ability [135]. The World Health Organization [136] in the document Global Strategy and Action Plan on Ageing and Health reported that the opportunities offered by longer lives requires a major rethink of the life course, in so far, that "opportunities are very dependent on people maintaining good health into older age" (p. iv).…”

“…Surely, an important starting point for recognizing aging as an important part of the life course is to accept the moral imperative facing all countries worldwide which involves the need to ensure the adoption of a rights-based approach to policy making for older people [47,159]. Coll-Planas [160] a strong advocate for promoting social capital in aging societies argued for policy initiatives that create "a healthy, inclusive and resilient ageing process in a supportive environment" (p. 323). The implications arising from the preceding perspective are unequivocally clear for governments and policymakers-change the way people age, reduce vulnerability [21] and promote resilience and overall adaptive capacities and competencies in older age.…”

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“…Surely, an important starting point for recognizing aging as an important part of the life course is to accept the moral imperative facing all countries worldwide which involves the need to ensure the adoption of a rights-based approach to policy making for older people [47,159]. Coll-Planas [160] a strong advocate for promoting social capital in aging societies argued for policy initiatives that create "a healthy, inclusive and resilient ageing process in a supportive environment" (p. 323). The implications arising from the preceding perspective are unequivocally clear for governments and policymakers-change the way people age, reduce vulnerability [21] and promote resilience and overall adaptive capacities and competencies in older age.…”