Active aging is a non-traditional example of aging. In this, there is an improvement in health in spite of the increasing age. This is contradictory to the usual aging wherein an increase in age leads to an increase in morbidity. It is also referred to as successful aging, aging well or healthy aging. Morbidity, which in common usage means unhealthy, can be measured using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) Disability Index. The active aging theory is one of the 3 most important psychosocial theories that talk about humans and their aging (the other two being the Disengagement theory and the Continuity theory).
According to the WHO,
“The process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation, and security in order to enhance the quality of life as people age. The word ‘active’ refers to continuing participation in social, economic, cultural, spiritual and civic affairs. Active aging aims to extend healthy life expectancy and quality of life for all people as they age.”
Factors for active aging:
A person is said to be actively aging if one can meet one’s basic needs; can learn, grow and make decisions; can move on one’s own; can build and maintain relationships and contribute to society. Active aging is not a very common phenomenon since this takes place based on the environment one lives in. Many reasons factor in so as to enable active aging. For example, our family background which determines our genes, as well as the diseases we may be victims of and those that we can resist, is a factor. Also, our financial resources which determine the quality of food we have access to as well as the health care we have also effect the health of a person. Education also helps better peoples’ lives and also plays a major role in the aging process of a being.
Differences in aging:
Another problem with aging is the fact that some old people are very feeble and frail that they can’t perform their own tasks and need assistance from someone all the time while there are those old people who are robust and can do the kind of works a youngster can. The WHO suggests that there must be a policy framework by the governments of various nations in order to take care of both very healthy and very weak old people as well as those in between.
Healthy aging is something that anyone can experience. It is not about being healthy or disease-free since many people have health conditions, which when controlled, can have a minimal effect over the well-being. It is a phenomenon wherein the kind of environment and opportunities that one requires in order to pursue those that they love and value are created.
Old age isn’t about medicines, frequent visits to the doctor or staying in bed. It’s a lot like the previous part of our lives- having fun, traveling and enjoying everything! Let us all age actively and enjoy our lives even more.
References:
https://www.who.int/ageing/healthy-ageing/en/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232766537_The_Theory_and_Practice_of_Active_Aging
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