Successful aging and its

discontents

Marty Martinson, DrPHAssistant ProfessorDept. of Health Education

Successful aging defined (Rowe & Kahn, 1997): 1) Avoidance of disease and disability2) High physical and cognitive function3) Engagement with life

Successful aging as a distinction (Rowe & Kahn, 1987):Distinction between pathologic aging, normal aging, and successful aging

Successful aging critiqued (Riley, 1999)

The model is “seriously incomplete.”

Successful aging and its discontents

Add and Stir (n=16)

Missing Voices (n=30)

Hard Hitting Critiques (n=14)

New Frames and Names (n=7)

• A prevalence problem• Need additional criteria• EXPAND IT

• Compare and contrast• Lacks cultural relevance and

variability• PERSONALIZE IT

• Individualism• Ageism and ableism• Neoliberal and conservative contexts• Dangerous influences, applications, and

internalizations• Alternative approaches for social justice• SCRAP IT

• Unrealistic portrayal• Contributes to internalized ageism

and ableism• Need more holistic ideals for

individual aging• REFRAME IT

Summary of Critiques

Why are holding on to a such a problematic concept?

• Funding• Neoliberal and cultural contexts

What’s the problem? • Unrealistic• Successful vs. unsuccessful • Incompatible with diverse understandings of life and aging• Destructive

Where do we go from here?

“The growth of an intellectually rich social gerontology depends on the continued willingness to foster greater interactions between empirical research, interpretation, critical evaluation, and reflexive knowledge.” (Cole, 1995)