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Encyclopedia of Geropsychology pp 1–9Cite as

Healthy Aging

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Synonyms

Active aging; Aging well; Positive aging; Productive aging; Successful aging

Definition

In the last 40 years, there have been many attempts to define healthy aging and its synonyms. The evolution of the definitions of healthy aging and its many synonyms has reflected contemporary thinking and a high level of interest in the health and quality of life of older people.

The WHO now defines healthy aging as:

The process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well being in old age. (World Health Organization 2015, p. 40)

An earlier similar definition was provided by Health Canada as part of a systematic research program on aging and the maximization of quality of life.

A lifelong process of optimising opportunities for improving and preserving health and physical, social and mental wellness, independence, quality of life and enhancing successful life-course transitions. (Health Canada 2001, p. 1)

The European Union Healthy Ageing Project (Swedish National...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. RDNS Institute, Shenzhen International Primary Health Care Research Institute and Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Colette J. Browning

  2. Shenzhen International Primary Health Care Research Institute and Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Shane A. Thomas

  3. Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia

    Hal Kendig

  4. Texas A&M, College Station, TX, USA

    Marcia G. Ory

Authors
  1. Colette J. Browning
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  2. Shane A. Thomas
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  3. Hal Kendig
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  4. Marcia G. Ory
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Colette J. Browning .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Nancy A. Pachana

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© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

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Browning, C.J., Thomas, S.A., Kendig, H., Ory, M.G. (2016). Healthy Aging. In: Pachana, N. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geropsychology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_323-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-080-3_323-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-287-080-3

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