Search

The current exploratory study investigates self-reported perceptions of successful ageing, and preferences for information access and support, amongst sexually and gender diverse people living with HIV in Australia. Cross-sectional data, derived from a larger survey, were extracted for 12 participants who self-reported as living with HIV and completed questions pertaining to successful ageing and information/support preferences. Qualitative responses regarding successful ageing were explored through thematic analysis while descriptive statistics were used to analyse information/support preferences. Themes of (1) social factors, agency, and autonomy; (2) physical and mental wellbeing; and (3) considerations of care needs and information were generated from qualitative data about successful ageing. General practitioners (83.3%) and HIV support services (75.0%) were the most preferred sources of information about ageing and care supports. Findings from this exploratory study identify opportunities for policy improvements, provision of funding, and coordinated community support to enable sexually and gender diverse people living with HIV to experience successful ageing in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature suggests that two distinct competencies [i.e., information technology ability (ITA), and internet self-efficacy] are necessary for the effective use of information technologies for successful ageing, but no study has examined the association of these skills on successful ageing and its domains (i.e., illness avoidance, functioning, and engagement with life). This study investigated whether Internet Self-Efficacy (ISE) moderates the potential association of ITA with successful ageing. The study adopted a cross-sectional design based on the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist and includes measures against confounding and common methods bias. The participants were 1186 older workers aged 50 years or older in three African countries (Kenya = 350; Nigeria = 260; Ghana = 576). The minimum sample size necessary was calculated, and data were analysed with hierarchical linear regression analysis. After controlling for the covariates, ITA and ISE had a positive association with successful ageing as well as illness avoidance, functioning, and engagement with life in the whole sample. ITA was also positively associated with successful ageing and its domains in Kenya and Ghana. The associations of ITA with successful ageing and its domains were positively moderated by ISE in the whole sample and within each of the three samples. Higher ITA can be associated with successful ageing among working older adults, and ITA positively influences successful ageing at different levels of ISE. Older adults with high ITA are more likely to avoid illness at a higher ISE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The current exploratory study investigates self-reported perceptions of successful ageing, and preferences for information access and support, amongst sexually and gender diverse people living with HIV in Australia. Cross-sectional data, derived from a larger survey, were extracted for 12 participants who self-reported as living with HIV and completed questions pertaining to successful ageing and information/support preferences. Qualitative responses regarding successful ageing were explored through thematic analysis while descriptive statistics were used to analyse information/support preferences. Themes of (1) social factors, agency, and autonomy; (2) physical and mental wellbeing; and (3) considerations of care needs and information were generated from qualitative data about successful ageing. General practitioners (83.3%) and HIV support services (75.0%) were the most preferred sources of information about ageing and care supports. Findings from this exploratory study identify opportunities for policy improvements, provision of funding, and coordinated community support to enable sexually and gender diverse people living with HIV to experience successful ageing in Australia.

The process of population ageing with socioeconomic and political implications necessitates the creation of sustainable social strategies aimed at societal inclusion, support of subjective well-being and successful ageing of older adults. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore individual and contextual factors and predictors which impede the possibility of successful ageing. The study was conducted from January to June 2024 through a questionnaire involving 403 elderly participants who live in the Eastern region of Croatia—Slavonia. The Diener Scale of Subjective Well-being and Self-assessment of Successful Ageing Scale were used in this research. A separate and model contribution of predictors (gender, age, subjective age, residence, level of education, marital status, comorbidities, Satisfaction with Life Scale and Prosperity Scale) were examined using bivariate and multivariate regression. Multivariate regression differentiated a statistically significant model, which as a whole explains between 41% and 55% of the variance of the present negative assessment of successful ageing, correctly classifying 80% of cases. The significant predictors included subjective age, place of residence, level of education, comorbidities, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Prosperity Scale. These findings underscore the importance of both individual and contextual factors in successful ageing within this specific regional context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Falls are common in the elderly and can lead to adverse consequences, like injuries, hospitalization, disability even mortality. Successful ageing emerged in sight to assess physical, psychological and social status of older adults. This study is conducted to explore the association between them in a large Indian community-dwelling population. Methods Data were based on the wave 1 survey of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI). People aged 60 and above with complete information were included. The elderly met five standards including absence of chronic diseases, freedom from disability, high cognitive ability, free from depressive symptoms and active social engagement, were classified into successful agers. The assessment of falls, fall-related injuries and multiple falls depended on interview. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to find the associations between falls, fall-injury, multiple falls and successful ageing after adjusting both socio-demographic and biological covariates. The log-likelihood ratio test was calculated interactions in subgroups. Results 31,345 participants in LASI were finally included in our study. Of them, 20.25% reported fall, and 25% were classified into successful agers. After full adjustment, successful ageing was negatively associated with falls (OR 0.70; 95%CI 0.65–0.76) and multiple falls (OR 0.70; 95%CI 0.63–0.78). And the association did not show the significance in older adults with fall-related injuries (OR 0.86; 95%CI 0.72–1.04). Conclusions Successful ageing was negatively associated with falls and multiple falls, but not fall-related injuries in older people in India. Future studies are demanded to explore the causal relationship and to reveal the underlying mechanism.

Abstract Background Successful ageing is the term often used for depicting exceptional ageing and can be measured with multidimensional models including physical, psychological and social wellbeing. The aim of this study was to test multidimensional successful ageing models to investigate whether these models can predict successful ageing, and which individual subcomponents included in the models are most significantly associated with successful ageing. Methods Successful ageing was defined as the ability to live at home without daily care at the age of 84 years or over. Data on the participants’ physical, psychological and social wellbeing were gathered at baseline and the follow-up period was 20 years. Four successful ageing models were constructed. Backward stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to identify the individual subcomponents of the models which best predicted successful ageing. Results All successful ageing models were able to predict ageing successfully after the 20-year follow-up period. After the backward stepwise logistic regression analysis, three individual subcomponents of four models remained statistically significant and were included in the new model: having no heart disease, having good self-rated health and feeling useful. As a model, using only these three subcomponents, the association with successful ageing was similar to using the full models. Conclusions Multidimensional successful ageing models were able to predict successful ageing after a 20-year follow-up period. However, according to the backward stepwise logistic regression analysis, the three subcomponents (absence of heart disease, good self-rated health and feeling useful) significantly associated with successful ageing performed as well as the multidimensional successful ageing models in predicting ageing successfully.

Demographic changes have led to an increase in older people in prisons. Whereas the rehabilitative process of younger offenders is geared towards their reintegration into the labour market, successful ageing should be a policy aim for older prisoners. This study explores how older incarcerated persons view their ageing. A qualitative study using a written survey with only the single question What does ageing in prison mean to you? was conducted in Bavaria, Germany. A total of 64 prisoners (61 male, 3 female) supplied answers varying in length from a few words to several pages. The thematic analysis revealed that together with health concerns, social relations and everyday activities, the uncertainty of the future was a central focus point for the older adults in prison. The authors propose that a positive vision of the future needs to be included in any model of successful ageing. If successful ageing is used as an aim for older prisoners, more attention needs to be paid to support interventions during and after the release process.

Background: Falls are common in the elderly and can lead to adverse consequences, like injuries, hospitalization, disability even mortality. Successful ageing emerged in sight to assess physical, psychological and social status of older adults. This study is conducted to explore the association between them in a large Indian community-dwelling population. Methods: Data were based on the wave 1 survey of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI). People aged 60 and above with complete information were included. The elderly met five standards including absence of chronic diseases, freedom from disability, high cognitive ability, free from depressive symptoms and active social engagement, were classified into successful agers. The assessment of falls, fall-related injuries and multiple falls depended on interview. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to find the associations between falls, fall-injury, multiple falls and successful ageing after adjusting both socio-demographic and biological covariates. The log-likelihood ratio test was calculated interactions in subgroups. Results: 31,345 participants in LASI were finally included in our study. Of them, 20.25% reported fall, and 25% were classified into successful agers. After full adjustment, successful ageing was negatively associated with falls (OR 0.70; 95%CI 0.65–0.76) and multiple falls (OR 0.70; 95%CI 0.63–0.78). And the association did not show the significance in older adults with fall-related injuries (OR 0.86; 95%CI 0.72–1.04). Conclusions: Successful ageing was negatively associated with falls and multiple falls, but not fall-related injuries in older people in India. Future studies are demanded to explore the causal relationship and to reveal the underlying mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demographic changes have led to an increase in older people in prisons. Whereas the rehabilitative process of younger offenders is geared towards their reintegration into the labour market, successful ageing should be a policy aim for older prisoners. This study explores how older incarcerated persons view their ageing. A qualitative study using a written survey with only the single question What does ageing in prison mean to you? was conducted in Bavaria, Germany. A total of 64 prisoners (61 male, 3 female) supplied answers varying in length from a few words to several pages. The thematic analysis revealed that together with health concerns, social relations and everyday activities, the uncertainty of the future was a central focus point for the older adults in prison. The authors propose that a positive vision of the future needs to be included in any model of successful ageing. If successful ageing is used as an aim for older prisoners, more attention needs to be paid to support interventions during and after the release process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the growing number of disabilities in elderly, Attention to this period of life is essential to be considered. Few studies focused on the physical, mental, disabilities, and disorders affecting the quality of life in elderly people. SA1 is related to various factors influencing the elderly's life. So, the objective of the current study is to build an intelligent system for SA prediction through ANN2 algorithms to investigate better all factors affecting the elderly life and promote them. Methods: This study was performed on 1156 SA and non-SA cases. We applied statistical feature reduction method to obtain the best factors predicting the SA. Two models of ANNs with 5, 10, 15, and 20 neurons in hidden layers were used for model construction. Finally, the best ANN configuration was obtained for predicting the SA using sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and cross-entropy loss function. Results: The study showed that 25 factors correlated with SA at the statistical level of P < 0.05. Assessing all ANN structures resulted in FF-BP3 algorithm having the configuration of 25-15-1 with accuracy-train of 0.92, accuracy-test of 0.86, and accuracy-validation of 0.87 gaining the best performance over other ANN algorithms. Conclusions: Developing the CDSS for predicting SA has crucial role to effectively inform geriatrics and health care policymakers decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tamil television serials have the potential to elicit a wide variety of emotions in viewers. Emotional control and expression change as individuals age, and this change is interrelated in various ways. Positive or negative emotions, when put into practice by regulating the emotions associated with health, can result in an increase or decrease in lifespan during successful ageing. This study explores the relationship between emotional well-being and prosperous ageing in Tamil television serials among older adults. An exploratory method was adopted to understand the connection between Tamil television serials and emotional well-being for successful ageing in Tamil Nadu (a southern state of India). Fourteen older adults over 50 who watch Tamil television mega-serials from Tamil Nadu were recruited for in-depth interviews. Three themes emerged from the thematic analysis: emotional connection, life satisfaction, fortitude and ageism among older adults. The findings suggest that Tamil television serials provide emotional engagement, companionship and life satisfaction for older adults, contributing to successful ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing from ethnographic research and interviews with older North American women who migrated alone to retire in Ecuador, this article grows the body of literature on gender and ageing, examining how these women position themselves within a gender-ageing nexus, contradicting certain gender norms in their attempt to obtain later-life self-fulfilment. Particularly, we examine how this group positions the third age as a time of individual adventure and self-actualisation, challenging normative gender ideals about femininity and care but meeting (many) social expectations to “age well.” We argue that the lifestyles of these women demonstrate new experiments with gendered ageing, facilitated by global inequalities but challenging some normative ideals around femininity and old(er) age.

Background: Vitality is a relatively unresearched concept and defined in existing literature either on the premise of one's functioning, or in terms of feeling alive. There is, however, little known about the significance of a sense of connectedness to life for vitality, especially from the perspective of older adults. This research aims to explore the association between the concept of connectedness and the perspective of vitality as a sense of aliveness, in order to formulate a theoretical understanding grounded in the subjective perceptions that older adults themselves hold of vitality. Methods: Following a constructivist grounded theory approach and theoretical sampling, constant comparative analysis was performed on the transcripts of 15 semi-structured interviews, conducted in the Netherlands with older adults (mean age 73 years, eight females and seven males), regarding their vitality. Concurrently, empirical and theoretical findings were translated into a theoretical conceptualisation. Results: According to the older participants, connecting to life itself enhanced their sense of vitality. This connection was achieved through internal connectedness (connecting to one's own life, intrinsic stimuli and intrinsic goals in an independent manner) and external connectedness (social connectedness, environmental connectedness, engagement with the external world). Furthermore, our findings revealed distinct interactions between internal and external connectedness and facilitating tools, such as freedom from physical constraints, financial freedom and adaptation. Conclusions: Our findings provide a holistic concept of vitality and connectedness and consolidate existing perspectives on vitality into an overarching framework, which can contribute to the development of effective care policy, healthcare interventions and welfare services.

Abstract Background This cross-sectional study evaluated the impacts of functional tooth loss on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among elderly people compared with the impacts of several common indicators of oral health. Additionally, the cut-off of functional tooth loss needed for a better OHRQoL was investigated to establish a new measure for successful oral ageing. Methods Data from people aged 65–74 were extracted from the Fourth National Oral Health Survey in Sichuan, China. Functional tooth loss was defined as both natural tooth loss and nonfunctional teeth, such as third molars, residual roots, and removable dentures. The cut-offs of tooth loss were first identified as 12, based on the previous definition of functional dentition (≥20 natural teeth except the third molars), and 14, 16, or 18 for further investigation. OHRQoL was evaluated by the standardized Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (sGOHAI) score. Logistic regression was performed to estimate the impacts on OHRQoL. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted using the stratified chi-square test to explore the effect of functional tooth loss at each position. Results The mean GOHAI score of the 744 participants was 48.25 ± 7.62. Elderly people who had lost ≤12 functional teeth had greater odds of reporting a higher sGOHAI score than those who had lost more functional teeth (odds ratio (OR) 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–2.11). No significant difference in the sGOHAI score was detected between people who had lost 13–16 functional teeth and those who had lost ≤12 functional teeth (0.61, 0.35–1.07). The loss of second premolars and first and second molars had great impacts on the sGOHAI score when ≤12 or ≤ 16 functional teeth had been lost. Conclusions Compared with natural tooth loss, functional dentition and occluding pairs, functional tooth loss can be a better indicator of OHRQoL in the elderly population. Sixteen remaining functional teeth seem to be sufficient to maintain good OHRQoL and successful oral ageing despite that number being previously acknowledged as ≥20 teeth.

Abstract Background Lifelong strength is fundamental to physical function, health, and quality of life. Reliable appropriate strength assessment measures for older adults play an important role in effective evaluation of baseline ability and exercise prescription to counter disease and disuse. This study aimed to investigate the within-session reliability of maximal isometric knee extension and flexion, hip abduction and adduction, and handgrip strength measures in frail and pre-frail older adults. Method The study was conducted at a residential care home in Birmingham, UK. All care home residents aged ≥ 65 years; pre-frail or frail according to the Fried Frailty phenotype criteria; able to speak and read English; not currently involved in any other clinical trial; without severe sensory impairments; and with a predicted life expectancy greater than the trial length were eligible. Maximal isometric lower limb testing was performed using specialised resistance training equipment and a portable measurement device, and grip strength was assessed using a portable dynamometer. All eligible participants attended a single testing session and performed three trials per measure. Peak force measures were obtained for analysis. Within-session reliability for each measure was calculated from repeated-measures analysis of variance, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and coefficients of variation (CV) with 95% confidence intervals. Results Eleven frail and eleven pre-frail older adults participated in the study. Within-session absolute and relative measures were found to be reliable with the highest overall repeatability indicated between trial 2 and trial 3 for knee extension, hip abduction, and handgrip (CV ≤ 4.65%, ICC ≥ 0.96) with variation evident across all measures, except knee extension, from trial 1 to 2. Conclusions Overall, maximal isometric strength in frail and pre-frail older adults with no previous testing experience can be measured with good to high reliability within their first testing session. An initial two familiarisation trials followed by two measurement trials is recommended to achieve the highest level of overall repeatability. Trial registration The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03141879 on 05/05/2017.

Abstract Background With the increasing proportion of older adults in India, it becomes essential to get an insight into the various influencing factors of successful ageing. However, the literature on successful ageing is minuscule in the Indian context. The present study attempted to understand successful ageing in terms of active and productive ageing by exploring their determining factors. Methods The data were extracted from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave–1 (2017–2018). We utilized self-reported time use information from the experimental module of the LASI. A total of 7837 ageing adults were included in the study. We employed descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis and a multinominal logistic regression model to examine the prevalence and the determinants of active and productive ageing. Results The prevalence of inactive ageing was higher among the Indian ageing population (57.47%), followed by active ageing (29.59%) and productive ageing (12.94%). Poor sleep quality and the prevalence of morbidity and disability limited the ageing population from attaining active and productive ageing. Engagement in physical activity was significantly associated with active and productive ageing (β = 0.83, 99% CI: -0.72–0.94 and β = 0.82, 99% CI: 0.66–0.98), respectively. Rural ageing adults were more likely to attain active ageing and less likely to attain productive ageing. Conclusion Engagement in physical activities among the ageing population shall be promoted to attain active and productive ageing. Since the rural ageing population were less likely to attain productive ageing than their urban counterparts, opportunities to participate in more formal economic activities in rural areas could be promoted for the wellbeing of the second demographic dividend.

Abstract Background The concept of ‘successful ageing’ has been a prominent focus within the field of gerontology for several decades. However, despite the widespread attention paid to this concept, its intersectional implications have not been fully explored yet. This paper aims to address this gap by analyzing the potential ageist and ableist biases in the discourse of successful ageing through an intersectional lens. Method A critical feminist perspective is taken to examine the sensitivity of the discourse of successful ageing to diversity in societies. The paper analyzes how ageist and ableist biases can manifest in the ways we conceptualize ageing, drawing on examples in the context of mental health. Results We argue that the conventional approach to successful ageing is limited in its ability to account for the experiences of people who have faced intersectional discrimination throughout their lives. Drawing on examples in the context of mental health, we explore among others the link between depression and disabilities. Furthermore, we shed light on the negative impact of ageist and ableist attitudes concerning the diagnosis and treatment of dementia. Discussion We demonstrate how diversity is often overlooked in discussions of ageing well, and how ageist and ableist biases can manifest in the ways we conceptualize ageing. We argue that focusing solely on the health status as a means of achieving success fails to adequately counter ageism for all people. We further emphasize the role of structural factors, such as ageist attitudes, in shaping the experience of ageing and exacerbating health inequalities. Conclusion Overall, our findings emphasize the need for a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of ageing and therefore an intersectional approach to conceptions of ageing well that recognizes and addresses the biases and limitations of current discourses. Thereby, this paper offers valuable insights into the complex intersections between age and disabilities from a bioethical perspective, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and intersectional approach to ageing.

In the last decades, the scientific interest in ageing has increased due to the progressive ageing of the global population and due to the importance of guaranteeing the elder people and the next generations a good quality of life and biopsychological well-being. However, nowadays, there is not a common and accepted definition of ageing. This situation may refer to the complexity and relevance of the ageing topic and it means that the concept of ageing needs to be understood in a deeper way as a multidimensional and complex process that includes different elements distinctive. The main goal of this review is to explore the definitions and conceptual models of ageing according to a psychological point of view, through a biopsychosocial approach, that integrates biological, psychological, and social aspects with the main goal of a better understanding of the complexity of the process itself. Methods: We conducted a review of the literature through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases, and we followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, analysing papers written in English between 2002 and 2023. Results: The review showed different conceptual models of ageing, including Rowe and Kahn’s successful ageing model, the World Health Organization’s models, and others like the “Selection, Optimization and Compensation” Model. Also, the determinants and predictors of ageing have been analysed highlighting the individual variability and the multidimensional nature of ageing. The geographic diversity of the included studies allowed for the analysis of cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental differences in the conceptualisation of ageing. Conclusions: The results emphasise the importance of targeted interventions and programs aimed at promoting well-being during ageing, considering the complexity and multidimensionality of the ageing process.

BackgroundThe incidence of social isolation among older adults is on the rise in today's health care climate. Consequently, preventing or ameliorating social isolation through technology in this age group is now being discussed as a significant social and health issue.AimThe purpose of the opinion paper is to clarify social transformation through technology and shed light on a new reality for older adults in situations of social isolation. Our goal is to persuade the reader that our position on this topic is a valid one. We support our claims with practice-based evidence and published research studies.MethodsTo do so, we checked the most recent literature, most of which came from the last decade. Our literature survey focused primarily on what is known about technology and how technology can affect social transformation and perceptions of social isolation.FindingsTwo dominant transformative realities became the focal points: the precarious implications of loneliness for older adults and the emerging reality of social change through digital technology central to eHealth and mHealth.DiscussionTo benefit from new technologies and reduce the detrimental effects of social isolation, we must engage older adults in a meaningful way and adapt the system of smart devices to reflect the specific physiological and psychological characteristics of the ageing population.ConclusionOlder adults need to comprehend the meanings of their social experiences to preserve their active lifestyle. Human interactions may be desirable, but technological dominance may also minimize the adverse effects of social isolation.

Background: This cross-sectional study evaluated the impacts of functional tooth loss on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among elderly people compared with the impacts of several common indicators of oral health. Additionally, the cut-off of functional tooth loss needed for a better OHRQoL was investigated to establish a new measure for successful oral ageing. Methods: Data from people aged 65–74 were extracted from the Fourth National Oral Health Survey in Sichuan, China. Functional tooth loss was defined as both natural tooth loss and nonfunctional teeth, such as third molars, residual roots, and removable dentures. The cut-offs of tooth loss were first identified as 12, based on the previous definition of functional dentition (≥20 natural teeth except the third molars), and 14, 16, or 18 for further investigation. OHRQoL was evaluated by the standardized Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (sGOHAI) score. Logistic regression was performed to estimate the impacts on OHRQoL. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted using the stratified chi-square test to explore the effect of functional tooth loss at each position. Results: The mean GOHAI score of the 744 participants was 48.25 ± 7.62. Elderly people who had lost ≤12 functional teeth had greater odds of reporting a higher sGOHAI score than those who had lost more functional teeth (odds ratio (OR) 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–2.11). No significant difference in the sGOHAI score was detected between people who had lost 13–16 functional teeth and those who had lost ≤12 functional teeth (0.61, 0.35–1.07). The loss of second premolars and first and second molars had great impacts on the sGOHAI score when ≤12 or ≤ 16 functional teeth had been lost. Conclusions: Compared with natural tooth loss, functional dentition and occluding pairs, functional tooth loss can be a better indicator of OHRQoL in the elderly population. Sixteen remaining functional teeth seem to be sufficient to maintain good OHRQoL and successful oral ageing despite that number being previously acknowledged as ≥20 teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lifelong strength is fundamental to physical function, health, and quality of life. Reliable appropriate strength assessment measures for older adults play an important role in effective evaluation of baseline ability and exercise prescription to counter disease and disuse. This study aimed to investigate the within-session reliability of maximal isometric knee extension and flexion, hip abduction and adduction, and handgrip strength measures in frail and pre-frail older adults. Method: The study was conducted at a residential care home in Birmingham, UK. All care home residents aged ≥ 65 years; pre-frail or frail according to the Fried Frailty phenotype criteria; able to speak and read English; not currently involved in any other clinical trial; without severe sensory impairments; and with a predicted life expectancy greater than the trial length were eligible. Maximal isometric lower limb testing was performed using specialised resistance training equipment and a portable measurement device, and grip strength was assessed using a portable dynamometer. All eligible participants attended a single testing session and performed three trials per measure. Peak force measures were obtained for analysis. Within-session reliability for each measure was calculated from repeated-measures analysis of variance, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and coefficients of variation (CV) with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Eleven frail and eleven pre-frail older adults participated in the study. Within-session absolute and relative measures were found to be reliable with the highest overall repeatability indicated between trial 2 and trial 3 for knee extension, hip abduction, and handgrip (CV ≤ 4.65%, ICC ≥ 0.96) with variation evident across all measures, except knee extension, from trial 1 to 2. Conclusions: Overall, maximal isometric strength in frail and pre-frail older adults with no previous testing experience can be measured with good to high reliability within their first testing session. An initial two familiarisation trials followed by two measurement trials is recommended to achieve the highest level of overall repeatability. Trial registration: The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03141879 on 05/05/2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Asians are the largest and fastest-growing racialized group in Canada, yet there are limited data on various aspects of health and well-being within this population. This includes the South Asian older adults' ethnoculturally informed perceptions of ageing. The study aimed to understand how social and cultural forces impact the meaning assigned to healthy ageing amongst older South Asians in Canada. We recruited with purposeful and snowball sampling strategies in Southern Ontario. We conducted in-depth focus group and individual interviews (n = 19) in five South Asian languages, employing a multilingual and cross-cultural qualitative approach. In our analysis, we identified three central themes: (a) taking care of body (b) taking care of mind and heart and (c) healthy ageing through the integration of mind and body. Our study demonstrates that older immigrants are a diverse and heterogeneous population and that their conception of healthy ageing is strongly influenced by their country of origin. This study also demonstrates how racialized foreign-born older adults might provide distinctive perspectives on the ageing process and on social theories of ageing due to their simultaneous immersion in and belonging to global majority and global minority cultures. This research also adds to the limited body of literature on the theories of ageing, despite migration trends, still has a white-centric lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The concept of 'successful ageing' has been a prominent focus within the field of gerontology for several decades. However, despite the widespread attention paid to this concept, its intersectional implications have not been fully explored yet. This paper aims to address this gap by analyzing the potential ageist and ableist biases in the discourse of successful ageing through an intersectional lens. Method: A critical feminist perspective is taken to examine the sensitivity of the discourse of successful ageing to diversity in societies. The paper analyzes how ageist and ableist biases can manifest in the ways we conceptualize ageing, drawing on examples in the context of mental health. Results: We argue that the conventional approach to successful ageing is limited in its ability to account for the experiences of people who have faced intersectional discrimination throughout their lives. Drawing on examples in the context of mental health, we explore among others the link between depression and disabilities. Furthermore, we shed light on the negative impact of ageist and ableist attitudes concerning the diagnosis and treatment of dementia. Discussion: We demonstrate how diversity is often overlooked in discussions of ageing well, and how ageist and ableist biases can manifest in the ways we conceptualize ageing. We argue that focusing solely on the health status as a means of achieving success fails to adequately counter ageism for all people. We further emphasize the role of structural factors, such as ageist attitudes, in shaping the experience of ageing and exacerbating health inequalities. Conclusion: Overall, our findings emphasize the need for a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of ageing and therefore an intersectional approach to conceptions of ageing well that recognizes and addresses the biases and limitations of current discourses. Thereby, this paper offers valuable insights into the complex intersections between age and disabilities from a bioethical perspective, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and intersectional approach to ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we develop a tentative philosophy to orchestrate and support possibilities for artful ageing. This effort argues that older adults need a broader range of opportunities to explore the manifold ephemeral, non-rational, and in-between elements of an ageing life. The philosophy is rooted in the notion that older adults need space (literally and metaphorically) to explore and process their existence and that engaging in such processes can entail emancipatory effects in everyday life. The perspective unfolded throughout the article is a philosophical venture, or, rather, a preliminary work, developing the concept of artful ageing as a tool applicable in rethinking and broadening the range of activities occurring in institutional settings dedicated to older adults. Furthermore, the perspective also presents a critical stance towards normative footings and biopolitical agendas embedded in current regimes of active ageing. Artful ageing represents the ambition to enable and support artful lives, events, and activities among residents and participants in care homes and other contexts. We argue that physical and existential spaces are closely intertwined entities and that initiatives aimed at maintaining adequate measures of openness, ambiguity, and sensory intimacy, i.e., events that allow for the experience of metaphorical cracks, can afford artful pockets in which to reside for a while, seek refuge, recharge, stray from the beaten track, and obtain an always partial feeling of emancipation. In qualifying the concept of artful ageing, we hope to open new avenues to contemplate and subsequently initiate activities for older adults that are not just orientated towards physical health in later life. At the same time, our ambition is to develop a critical perspective aimed at challenging existing notions of successful ageing in (re)invigorating the importance of artful processes and experiences as an element inherent to successful ageing, as well.

Abstract This study aims to estimate the potential economic benefits of healthy ageing by obtaining estimates of the economic losses generated by functional limitations among middle-aged and older people. Utilising two data sources retrieved from nationally representative samples of the Japanese people, we analysed the association between functional limitation and economic indicators, including labour market outcomes, savings, investment, consumption, and unpaid activities among individuals aged ≥ 60. Using the estimated parameters from our micro-econometric analyses and the official statistics by the Japanese government and a previous study, we calculated the financial costs that can be averted if healthy ageing is achieved as foregone wages and formal medical/long-term care costs incurred by functional limitations. Our micro-econometric analyses found that functional limitation was associated with a 3% point increase in retirement probability, with a stronger association among those aged 60–69. Moreover, functional limitation was linked with higher total health spending and less active involvement in domestic work. Foregone wages generated by functional limitation were estimated to be approximately USD 266.4 million, driven mainly by individuals in their 60s. Long-term care costs, rather than medical care costs, for older people aged ≥ 85 accounted for most of the additional costs, indicating that the estimated medical and long-term costs generated by functional limitations were approximately USD 72.7 billion. Health interventions can yield economic benefits by preventing exits from the labour market due to health issues and reducing medical and long-term care costs.

South Asians are the largest and fastest-growing racialized group in Canada, yet there are limited data on various aspects of health and well-being within this population. This includes the South Asian older adults’ ethnoculturally informed perceptions of ageing. The study aimed to understand how social and cultural forces impact the meaning assigned to healthy ageing amongst older South Asians in Canada. We recruited with purposeful and snowball sampling strategies in Southern Ontario. We conducted in-depth focus group and individual interviews (n = 19) in five South Asian languages, employing a multilingual and cross-cultural qualitative approach. In our analysis, we identified three central themes: (a) taking care of body (b) taking care of mind and heart and (c) healthy ageing through the integration of mind and body. Our study demonstrates that older immigrants are a diverse and heterogeneous population and that their conception of healthy ageing is strongly influenced by their country of origin. This study also demonstrates how racialized foreign-born older adults might provide distinctive perspectives on the ageing process and on social theories of ageing due to their simultaneous immersion in and belonging to global majority and global minority cultures. This research also adds to the limited body of literature on the theories of ageing, despite migration trends, still has a white-centric lens.

Copyright of Journal of ROL Sport Sciences / ROL Spor Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Journal of ROL Sport Sciences / ROL Spor Bilimleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Društvena Istraživanja is the property of Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Successful ageing is the term often used for depicting exceptional ageing but a uniform definition is lacking. The aim was to re-examine and describe the successful agers living at home at the age of 84 years or over after a 20-year follow-up. The purpose was also to identify possible factors leading to their successful ageing. Methods Successful ageing was defined as the ability to live at home without daily care. Data on the participants’ functional ability, objective health, self-rated health and satisfaction with life were gathered at baseline and after a 20-year follow-up period. A measurement of personal biological age (PBA) was established and the difference between the PBA and the chronological age (CA) was counted. Results The participants’ mean age was 87.6 years (Standard deviation 2.5, range 84–96). All analyzed variables depicted poorer physical ability and subjective health at re-examination than at baseline. Still, 99% of the participants were at least moderately satisfied with their lives. The PBA at baseline was 6.5 years younger than CA, and at re-examination, the difference was even more pronounced at 10.5 years. Discussion Even though the participants were chronologically older, had poorer physical ability and subjective health, they were still satisfied with their lives indicating possible psychological resilience. The difference between the PBA and CA was greater at re-examination than at baseline indicating that they were also biologically successful agers. Conclusions Successful agers were satisfied with life despite hardships and had a lower biological than chronological age. Further research is needed to evaluate causality.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to clarify the link between oral health and quality of life among older adults in Europe. Methods Cross-sectional data from wave 5 (n = 59,048 observations) were used from the representative Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Oral health was quantified by three questions: presence of all natural teeth (yes; no); among individuals with missing natural teeth, the number of missing teeth and the extent of replaced natural teeth were quantified. Quality of life was quantified using the widely used CASP-12. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine the association between oral health and quality of life, adjusting for various potential confounders. Results Multiple linear regressions showed that higher quality of life was associated with (1) the presence of all natural teeth and among individuals with missing natural teeth, with (2) a lower number of missing natural teeth and (3) completely replaced natural teeth. Additionally, quality of life was positively associated with younger age, being female, being married or in a partnership, higher income, higher educational level, not currently smoking, a lower number of functional impairments, better self-rated health, a lower number of depressive symptoms and a lower number of chronic diseases. Conclusion Study findings showed an association between oral health and quality of life among older adults in Europe. Thus, the importance of good oral health for successful ageing was stressed. Future research is required to clarify the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, longitudinal studies are required to confirm our current findings.

In this article, we develop a tentative philosophy to orchestrate and support possibilities for artful ageing. This effort argues that older adults need a broader range of opportunities to explore the manifold ephemeral, non-rational, and in-between elements of an ageing life. The philosophy is rooted in the notion that older adults need space (literally and metaphorically) to explore and process their existence and that engaging in such processes can entail emancipatory effects in everyday life. The perspective unfolded throughout the article is a philosophical venture, or, rather, a preliminary work, developing the concept of artful ageing as a tool applicable in rethinking and broadening the range of activities occurring in institutional settings dedicated to older adults. Furthermore, the perspective also presents a critical stance towards normative footings and biopolitical agendas embedded in current regimes of active ageing. Artful ageing represents the ambition to enable and support artful lives, events, and activities among residents and participants in care homes and other contexts. We argue that physical and existential spaces are closely intertwined entities and that initiatives aimed at maintaining adequate measures of openness, ambiguity, and sensory intimacy, i.e., events that allow for the experience of metaphorical cracks, can afford artful pockets in which to reside for a while, seek refuge, recharge, stray from the beaten track, and obtain an always partial feeling of emancipation. In qualifying the concept of artful ageing, we hope to open new avenues to contemplate and subsequently initiate activities for older adults that are not just orientated towards physical health in later life. At the same time, our ambition is to develop a critical perspective aimed at challenging existing notions of successful ageing in (re)invigorating the importance of artful processes and experiences as an element inherent to successful ageing, as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to estimate the potential economic benefits of healthy ageing by obtaining estimates of the economic losses generated by functional limitations among middle-aged and older people. Utilising two data sources retrieved from nationally representative samples of the Japanese people, we analysed the association between functional limitation and economic indicators, including labour market outcomes, savings, investment, consumption, and unpaid activities among individuals aged ≥ 60. Using the estimated parameters from our micro-econometric analyses and the official statistics by the Japanese government and a previous study, we calculated the financial costs that can be averted if healthy ageing is achieved as foregone wages and formal medical/long-term care costs incurred by functional limitations. Our micro-econometric analyses found that functional limitation was associated with a 3% point increase in retirement probability, with a stronger association among those aged 60–69. Moreover, functional limitation was linked with higher total health spending and less active involvement in domestic work. Foregone wages generated by functional limitation were estimated to be approximately USD 266.4 million, driven mainly by individuals in their 60s. Long-term care costs, rather than medical care costs, for older people aged ≥ 85 accounted for most of the additional costs, indicating that the estimated medical and long-term costs generated by functional limitations were approximately USD 72.7 billion. Health interventions can yield economic benefits by preventing exits from the labour market due to health issues and reducing medical and long-term care costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the growing number of disabilities in elderly, Attention to this period of life is essential to be considered. Few studies focused on the physical, mental, disabilities, and disorders affecting the quality of life in elderly people. SA1 is related to various factors influencing the elderly’s life. So, the objective of the current study is to build an intelligent system for SA prediction through ANN2 algorithms to investigate better all factors affecting the elderly life and promote them. Methods: This study was performed on 1156 SA and non-SA cases. We applied statistical feature reduction method to obtain the best factors predicting the SA. Two models of ANNs with 5, 10, 15, and 20 neurons in hidden layers were used for model construction. Finally, the best ANN configuration was obtained for predicting the SA using sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and cross-entropy loss function. Results: The study showed that 25 factors correlated with SA at the statistical level of P < 0.05. Assessing all ANN structures resulted in FF-BP3 algorithm having the configuration of 25-15-1 with accuracy-train of 0.92, accuracy-test of 0.86, and accuracy-validation of 0.87 gaining the best performance over other ANN algorithms. Conclusions: Developing the CDSS for predicting SA has crucial role to effectively inform geriatrics and health care policymakers decision making.

Significance: Retirees represent a growing segment of the population as life expectancy increases and the length of retirement is extended. This growth has prompted a number of studies into the nature of retirement. Associated with this interest is an exploration of the meaning of work and impacts on meaning formation in the transition to retirement. Increasingly, retirees are exploring concepts such as the 'third age' and 'successful ageing' as they enter their retirement years in a good state of mental and physical capacity. This exploration is particularly prevalent in those retiring from academic posts, for whom identity is often closely bound with their productive work, whether in research or teaching. Whatever the mode of stepping down from full-time paid employment, the literature is unanimous in its observation that planning for retirement is the strongest indicator of a successful and meaningful transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Successful ageing is the term often used for depicting exceptional ageing but a uniform definition is lacking. The aim was to re-examine and describe the successful agers living at home at the age of 84 years or over after a 20-year follow-up. The purpose was also to identify possible factors leading to their successful ageing. Methods: Successful ageing was defined as the ability to live at home without daily care. Data on the participants' functional ability, objective health, self-rated health and satisfaction with life were gathered at baseline and after a 20-year follow-up period. A measurement of personal biological age (PBA) was established and the difference between the PBA and the chronological age (CA) was counted. Results: The participants' mean age was 87.6 years (Standard deviation 2.5, range 84–96). All analyzed variables depicted poorer physical ability and subjective health at re-examination than at baseline. Still, 99% of the participants were at least moderately satisfied with their lives. The PBA at baseline was 6.5 years younger than CA, and at re-examination, the difference was even more pronounced at 10.5 years. Discussion: Even though the participants were chronologically older, had poorer physical ability and subjective health, they were still satisfied with their lives indicating possible psychological resilience. The difference between the PBA and CA was greater at re-examination than at baseline indicating that they were also biologically successful agers. Conclusions: Successful agers were satisfied with life despite hardships and had a lower biological than chronological age. Further research is needed to evaluate causality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing intensive informal caregiving can cause caregivers' overburden, possibly impacting successful ageing factors such as physical and mental health and social life. This article aimed to investigate how informal caregivers experience the impact of providing care for chronic respiratory patients on the process of caregiver ageing. A qualitative exploratory study was performed using semi-structured interviews. The sample comprised 15 informal caregivers who provided intensive care for patients with chronic respiratory failure for more than six months. They were recruited while accompanying the patients on their examination for chronic respiratory failure in Special Hospital for Pulmonary Disease in Zagreb between January 2020 and November 2020. Semi-structured interviews were used with informal caregivers, and interview transcripts were analysed by the inductive thematic analysis method. Similar codes were organised into categories, and categories were grouped into themes. Two themes were identified in the domain of physical health relating to informal caregiving activities and inadequate treatment of their difficulties, three themes were in the domain of mental health relating to satisfaction with the recipient of care and feelings, and two themes were in the domain of social life, relating to social isolation and social support. Informal caregivers of patients with chronic respiratory failure experience a negative impact on the factors that contribute to the successful ageing of informal caregivers. The results of our research suggest that caregivers need support in maintaining their own health and social inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Digital technologies provide new opportunities to promote, incentivise and support physical activity as an essential component of healthy ageing, but their potential is yet to be fully realised. There is mixed information about older people's capacity to use digital technologies to support physical activity, and about how it can benefit them. Methods: This study focuses on older people who report some success in using digital technology to support physical activity. We conducted narrative interviews with 17 purposively sampled survey respondents aged 70+ who had reported using smartphones, tablets/computers or wearable/portable digital devices to support their physical activity. We sought to identify transferable lessons from their experiences and to explain how these experiences were shaped by contextual factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was analysed inductively and deductively. Results: Interviewees perceived digital technology as a facilitator and motivator for physical activity, describing multiple benefits. Many disparaged their technical skills yet they used technology creatively to access and enhance physical activity, driven by philosophies of active living which underpinned their refusal to "sit in God's waiting room". Most reported navigating challenges associated with ageing in a discriminatory society, compounded by COVID-19 impacts. We identified four 'lessons': 1. Embrace technology, 2. Find your thing, 3. Be adaptive and 4. Resist 'being old'. Conclusions: Leveraging trusted social and health professional relationships to model and encourage technology-supported physical activity, and strengthening the value proposition of technology for older people with older people, may encourage their use of digital technology to support physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the widespread stigma and exclusion attached to dementia in dominant narratives of successful ageing, this article addresses a gap in the scientific literature concerning our understanding of the medicalization of cognitive decline as a natural phenomenon. To this end, it explores how a dementia diagnosis acquires its symbolic power of exclusion in later life through an ethnography of cognitive rehabilitation therapy in two memory clinics in a southern European nation. It argues that this symbolic power of exclusion is locally produced through the meaning making practices of therapists and researchers administering regular cognitive training therapy and exercises to support autonomy. It shows how the different steps involved in rehabilitation play a role in dividing later life by defining and reifying a category of abnormal ageing during the cognitive assessment, and by applying a confrontational approach exposing decline. It shows how this approach generates the position of older adults who can be rehabilitated against those who cannot; the latter representing a “failed” ageing in the narrative of successful ageing. This article proposes the adoption of the concept of “technologies of ascription” to characterize this process of exclusion through reification and confrontation of “abnormal cognitive decline.” The paper argues that such practices are central to the local production of the symbolic power attached to a dementia diagnosis as well as its capacity to fragment later life. Finally, it argues for the utility of this concept in offering new opportunities for anthropology to characterize exclusion in later life through medicalization.

Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) contributes to healthy aging. Several studies have investigated factors influencing PA. However, population-based studies evaluating associations between volunteering and changes in PA are lacking. Our aim was to clarify whether starting and stopping to volunteer is associated with changes in physical activity in older adults. Method We used data from the German Ageing Survey (wave 5 and 6 in the years 2014 and 2017), which is a representative survey of community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults. We included individuals ≥ 65 years (analytical sample: n = 5,682). PA was investigated using questions from the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) and converted into metabolic equivalent of tasks (METs) per week. Changes in volunteering status in groups or organizations (yes/no) and their association with changes in PA were investigated in adjusted asymmetric fixed effects models stratified by sex. Results We found an association, between starting to volunteer and increased physical activity in older adults in the total sample (ß = 1,078.93, p = 0.052). This change reached significance for men (ß = 1,751.54, p = 0.016), but not for women (ß = 187.25, p = 0.832) in the stratified analyses. In the total sample, there was no association between stopping volunteering and decreases in PA (ß = -285.61, p = 0.543). This also held true in the stratified analyses for men (ß = -320.76, p = 0.583) and women (ß = -158.96, p = 0.845). Conclusion Our study identified an association between beginning to volunteer and increased physical activity among older men. Thus, beginning to volunteer may assist older men in increasing their physical activity levels.

Background: Digital technologies provide new opportunities to promote, incentivise and support physical activity as an essential component of healthy ageing, but their potential is yet to be fully realised. There is mixed information about older people’s capacity to use digital technologies to support physical activity, and about how it can benefit them. Methods: This study focuses on older people who report some success in using digital technology to support physical activity. We conducted narrative interviews with 17 purposively sampled survey respondents aged 70+ who had reported using smartphones, tablets/computers or wearable/portable digital devices to support their physical activity. We sought to identify transferable lessons from their experiences and to explain how these experiences were shaped by contextual factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was analysed inductively and deductively. Results: Interviewees perceived digital technology as a facilitator and motivator for physical activity, describing multiple benefits. Many disparaged their technical skills yet they used technology creatively to access and enhance physical activity, driven by philosophies of active living which underpinned their refusal to “sit in God’s waiting room”. Most reported navigating challenges associated with ageing in a discriminatory society, compounded by COVID-19 impacts. We identified four ‘lessons’: 1. Embrace technology, 2. Find your thing, 3. Be adaptive and 4. Resist ‘being old’. Conclusions: Leveraging trusted social and health professional relationships to model and encourage technology-supported physical activity, and strengthening the value proposition of technology for older people 'with' older people, may encourage their use of digital technology to support physical activity.

Background: The aim of this study was to clarify the link between oral health and quality of life among older adults in Europe. Methods: Cross-sectional data from wave 5 (n = 59,048 observations) were used from the representative Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Oral health was quantified by three questions: presence of all natural teeth (yes; no); among individuals with missing natural teeth, the number of missing teeth and the extent of replaced natural teeth were quantified. Quality of life was quantified using the widely used CASP-12. Multiple linear regressions were used to determine the association between oral health and quality of life, adjusting for various potential confounders. Results: Multiple linear regressions showed that higher quality of life was associated with (1) the presence of all natural teeth and among individuals with missing natural teeth, with (2) a lower number of missing natural teeth and (3) completely replaced natural teeth. Additionally, quality of life was positively associated with younger age, being female, being married or in a partnership, higher income, higher educational level, not currently smoking, a lower number of functional impairments, better self-rated health, a lower number of depressive symptoms and a lower number of chronic diseases. Conclusion: Study findings showed an association between oral health and quality of life among older adults in Europe. Thus, the importance of good oral health for successful ageing was stressed. Future research is required to clarify the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, longitudinal studies are required to confirm our current findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The rapidly ageing world has placed considerable demands on health and social care. To address this, the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations (UN) have declared action for this decade (2021-2030) to promote healthy ageing. Operationalisation of successful ageing in the oral health context in terms of its dimensions and their interconnectedness was determined., Methods: A citation analysis was conducted following a scoping review to determine oral health's relationship with 5 key dimensions of successful ageing. This included examining the occurrence and co-occurrence amongst dimensions and over time. Specific consideration of citations by country, journal type, and authors through overlay visualisation was performed to map their interconnectedness., Results: The scoping review identified 263 publications covering 1730 specific terms. There was a growing interest in successful ageing in the oral health context, mostly in the past decade (2010 onwards; 65.8%, 173 publications). The dimension of key consideration was "health and ADLs" (activities of daily living); this dimension appeared in 97.3% of publications (n = 256) and was found earliest to emerge, with the greatest link strengths compared to other dimensions. Country-level variations in citation data were observed, and there was good citation interconnectedness between them. Key oracles for dissemination have been medical rather than dental-specific journals. Amongst authors, there was considerable interconnectedness in the field., Conclusions: Findings highlight how successful ageing in the oral health context has been studied, with implications for addressing the significance of oral health to older peoples' lives in line with the WHO and UN's agenda. Citation analyses identified the "known unknowns" area for further consideration, and these findings have the potential to inform how dental research may best move forward with the successful ageing agenda to bring about translational impact., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None disclosed., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Lay concepts of successful ageing have attracted the attention of researchers over the past 15 years. However, little is known about how older people in Southeastern European countries understand successful ageing and the factors associated with it. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study conducted in Croatia, a Southeastern European country, was to explore Croatian older people’s definitions of successful ageing and the contributing factors. Interviews were conducted with 95 community-dwelling older men (49.5% of the sample) and women (50.5%) aged 65 to 90 years. Participants answered questions about definitions and contributing factors/determinants of successful ageing. Responses were subjected to thematic analysis. Results showed that participants gave similar responses to questions about the components and determinants of successful ageing. The most frequently mentioned components of successful ageing were the physical/physiological (with subthemes of general health, healthy habits, and physical mobility), the psychological component (with subthemes of good life, subjective well-being, and psychological resources, etc.), and the engagement and activity component. Among factors that contribute to successful ageing, social and physical were mentioned most frequently, followed by psychological, financial factors, and engagement/activity. Longevity and good genes were rarely cited as factors associated with successful ageing. Besides, Croatian older people have not mentioned spirituality or religiosity as important components or determinants of successful ageing. The results of our study are mostly consistent with the findings of previous research on successful ageing in predominantly Western cultures. They show the great heterogeneity of lay conceptions, which are much broader and more complex compared to researchers’ models of successful ageing.

Lay concepts of successful ageing have attracted the attention of researchers over the past 15 years. However, little is known about how older people in Southeastern European countries understand successful ageing and the factors associated with it. Therefore, the aim of this qualitative study conducted in Croatia, a Southeastern European country, was to explore Croatian older people’s definitions of successful ageing and the contributing factors. Interviews were conducted with 95 community-dwelling older men (49.5% of the sample) and women (50.5%) aged 65 to 90 years. Participants answered questions about definitions and contributing factors/determinants of successful ageing. Responses were subjected to thematic analysis. Results showed that participants gave similar responses to questions about the components and determinants of successful ageing. The most frequently mentioned components of successful ageing were the physical/physiological (with subthemes of general health, healthy habits, and physical mobility), the psychological component (with subthemes of good life, subjective well-being, and psychological resources, etc.), and the engagement and activity component. Among factors that contribute to successful ageing, social and physical were mentioned most frequently, followed by psychological, financial factors, and engagement/activity. Longevity and good genes were rarely cited as factors associated with successful ageing. Besides, Croatian older people have not mentioned spirituality or religiosity as important components or determinants of successful ageing. The results of our study are mostly consistent with the findings of previous research on successful ageing in predominantly Western cultures. They show the great heterogeneity of lay conceptions, which are much broader and more complex compared to researchers’ models of successful ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]