Optimal Aging

Catalog description

“Contemporary older adults may expect as many as 30 years of active life following retirement, yet a deficiency principle underlies prevalent recommendations for successful aging. Examples include the focus on intergenerational tensions around material resources when healthy older adults have reduced interest in the material life and fewer needs for material resourcesl and strictly allopathic approaches to fighting disease when links between an integrated mind and body and physical health have been convincingly demonstrated. A sufficiency principle suggests that human meta-physicality is insufficently explored in successful aging research, is highly relevant for individual well-being in the second half of life, and highly relevant for older adults’ continued positive contributions to society. This course evaluates the deficiency and sufficiency principles in successful aging research. It examines processes in human development that lead to optimal aging and highlights opportunities in contemporary older adult living environments that support older adults? continuing and relevant social contributions. Offered fall or spring.