What Does Super-Aging Mean to Australian Older Adults?

Abstract

The perspectives of older adults on “super-aging,” a concept used in the research literature to describe older adults with high cognitive abilities, has never been examined. This qualitative study aimed to explore older adults’ views on what constitutes “super-aging,” how it might be measured and what associated outcomes are meaningful. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with 39 community members aged between 65 and 101 living in Australia with discussions transcribed and thematically analyzed. Participants identified key constituents of super-aging as high levels of activity (mental and physical), ability, health and social engagement and a positive attitude to aging with the qualification that super-aging status should be individualized in the context of background, opportunities, and relative aptitudes. There was disagreement as to whether super-aging should be measured holistically or whether individuals could be super-aging in one area of their life and not others. Abilities were thought best measured against that individual’s prior performance and functional independence and community participation was deemed both important and measurable. While participants considered that identifying super-agers could provide individual and societal benefits, they urged caution to avoid discriminating against older people who were not exceptional.

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