3. Comfortable Shelter and Dignified Accommodations. Although everyone would like to remain in their own homes as long as possible and live an independent lifestyle, age-related diseases and infirmities frequently require placement of the elderly in long-term care facilities that vary drastically in their quality of care. Some progressive facilities employ evidence-based interventions such as pet therapy, art therapy and music therapy that have been shown to be effective in promoting quality of life among the elderly, while others simply allow their residents to wither away, neglected, unnoticed and uncared for by family or friends.
4. Reasonable Assurances of Safety (freedom from crime, terrorist attacks, etc.). In the culture of fear that has emerged in the United States and elsewhere following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, older people, like anyone else, want to be assured of their physical safety as they go about their day-to-day lives.
5. Social Life. Many elderly people will experience the harsh reality of witnessing many of their family members and friends die as they grow older. A lack of available transportation and an inability...
To the extent that older people are able to socialize will likely be the extent to which they avoid the crushing effects of loneliness and depression that can result, thereby contributing to an improved quality of life.
CONCLUSION
It is reasonable to conclude that the extent to which these foregoing concepts of successful aging and quality of life will inevitably be redefined within public policy in the future. Indeed, the same innovations in healthcare and telecommunications that have redefined successful living will also have a profound effect on definitions of successful aging in the future. Successful elders in the mid-21st century will possess the skill set needed to navigate the ubiquitous computing environment that has emerged and will possess the monetary resources they need to live their golden years, which may become the period between 80 and 100 years by then, in comfort and security, with access to professional and avocational communities of interest and with access to the healthcare resources they will need as they join the older elderly in the future.
