Or use the arrow buttons below to read the previous or next article. The notions of elderly happiness, life satisfaction, and successful aging are now being explored. A shift in the way that old age is perceived has taken place in this country, with a greater emphasis on more positive attributes of aging. Ageism and the myths of aging are also being reevaluated by a growing number of people. With the increasing interest in successful aging, it is necessary to identify the means by which individuals maintain a sense of well being and satisfaction in later life.
Older individuals face numerous developmental challenges.
These challenges include changes in life circumstances, such as retirement, living on a fixed income, and possible change of residence. Loss is also an inevitable part of the aging process. Older individuals must contend not only with the loss of health and physical functioning, such as hearing, eye sight, memory, and mobility, but also emotional losses. These would include the loss of status and identity following retirement and the losses of spouses or loved ones. With older adults experiencing an increasingly unfavorable balance between gains and losses, coping strategies are needed to maintain quality of life.