Translating Positive Aging to Delightful Aging

This book focuses on varied objective healthy aging practices and interventions, explores practical applications of research, and emphasizes the role of diversity in evidence-based interventions for older adults to promote delightful aging, the subjective perception of older adults and the goal of the healthy aging movement. It also explores issues related to advocacy and accessibility through a culturally sensitive lens and evaluates factors fostering delightful aging, including mental health and overall inclusivity. Positive aging examines older adulthood as a stage in lifespan development with unique opportunities for growth and fulfillment. Although positive aging and healthy aging are related, they are distinct concepts. While healthy aging focuses on maintaining physical and cognitive function and preventing disease, positive aging emphasizes a more holistic and ideological approach, encompassing mental, social, spiritual, and even economic well-being alongside physical health. This contributed volume explores unique biopsychosocial issues relevant to positive aging, examining the issues from a global policy perspective, to improve the quality of life in later years. Throughout the book, the authors emphasize the focal transition from healthy aging to positive aging to delightful aging. The introductory chapter discusses the concept of delightful aging, quality of life, and the potential of various health promotion practices. The chapters that follow tie various disparate themes together focusing on current country-specific policies in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and Latin America; barriers and facilitators of positive aging; and the potential role of cross-cultural health promotional practices in maintaining the quality of life. Translating Positive Aging to Delightful Aging: Rethinking Policies and Practices from a Global Perspective will benefit a diverse readership including academics and researchers in gerontology, geriatrics, and public health, as well as policymakers.