Successful Aging a Self-Reliant Umbrella: Defining Successful Aging Among the Old-Old (80+) in Shanghai

Abstract

The Chinese old-old (80+) population has steadily increased in recent years; however, limited studies have examined how they age. The purpose of this study is to explore how the old-old in urban China define successful aging. Guided by grounded theory, community-dwelling old-old individuals participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews (N= 97). Participants identified self-reliance as the goal of successful aging, which was supported by four proactive behaviors, including physical activity, financial security, community connectedness, and willing acceptance of reality. These four proactive behaviors were conceptualized to constitute the ribs of an umbrella model offering a canopy to protect the pole of self-reliant successful aging. This study offers new insight in understanding dynamic and nuanced ways that the old-old in urban China age successfully and their valiant efforts to maintain an ideal status.

Using Concept Mapping Methods to Define “Healthy Aging” in Anchorage, Alaska

“…Maintaining independence is a major factor in healthy aging for older adults in a variety of locations around the world. For example, research among Chinese older adults demonstrated that self-reliance was the overall goal of healthy aging, with emphasis on the concepts of physical activity, financial security, community connectedness, and willing acceptance of the declines brought about by aging (Chen et al, 2020). Although some of these concepts arose in Anchorage, our sample was unique because research participants were much less focused on self-reliance and instead focused on psychosocial factors of healthy aging.…”

The perspectives of successful ageing among older adults aged 75+: a systematic review with a narrative synthesis of mixed studies

“…Acceptance is understood as 'the mental recognition that personal circumstances change over time, and that one has accepted and come to terms with these changes' (Tate et al, 2013). The importance of accepting the realities of ageing was noted (Dionigi et al, 2011;Collis and Waterfield, 2015;Chen et al, 2019). This includes accepting the pain and physical limitations that come with age (Horder et al, 2013;Tate et al, 2013;Collis and Waterfield, 2015;Sato-Komata et al, 2015;Carr and Weir, 2017), as well as cognitive declines (Sato-Komata et al, 2015).…”

“…Eight studies included the theme of financial resources. Financial resources were needed to buy essentials (Bowling, 2006;Bassett et al, 2007;Torres and Hammarstrom, 2009;Horder et al, 2013;Nosraty et al, 2015;Sato-Komata et al, 2015;Chen et al, 2019), pay bills (Bowling, 2006;Horder et al, 2013) and retain autonomy in financial decisions (Nosraty et al, 2015;Chen et al, 2019) -'Money doesn't buy happiness, but it helps to buy the support you need to live well' (Bassett et al, 2007, p. 122). Financial resources were discussed in the context of having a sufficient pension, as stated by a Finnish female: 'Well, health of course and then sufficient income.…”

“…Negative attitudes were also reported. Some studies mentioned negative attitudes and pessimism (Collis and Waterfield, 2015;McGrath et al, 2016;Chen et al, 2019) in the presence of illness, pain, the loss of a loved one and due to past life experiences (Nosraty et al, 2015). These life events mitigate against successful ageing (Collis and Waterfield, 2015).…”

“…System influences included health care (Bassett et al, 2007;Horder et al, 2013;Tate et al, 2013;Collis and Waterfield, 2015) and social support systems (Bassett et al, 2007). These comprised health-care providers (Tate et al, 2013), medication (Bassett et al, 2007;Tate et al, 2013;Collis and Waterfield, 2015), receiving medical treatment (Bassett et al, 2007;Sato-Komata et al, 2015), going for regular medical check-ups (Sato-Komata et al, 2015;Chen et al, 2019) and receiving informal care (Bassett et al, 2007). Advances in science and medical knowledge, the dissemination of medical research and increased availability of health-care services (Bassett et al, 2007) were also seen as determinants of successful ageing.…”