Revisioning Later Life

Abstract

Abstract This chapter explores emerging elderhood—a proposed new life phase between ages 55 and 75—characterized by growth, complexity, and opportunities for reconceptualizing self and relationships. Challenging Western narratives that frame later life as either decline or reinvention, it argues for a more nuanced, relational, and strength-based understanding of aging. Drawing on research in adult development, resilience, and narrative identity, the chapter highlights how individuals and couples create meaning through storytelling, moving beyond adaptation toward wisdom and relational interdependence. As longevity increases and traditional models of adulthood evolve, current theories inadequately capture the diversity and dynamism of later life. Emerging elderhood acknowledges both privilege and inequity in aging experiences while affirming the creative potential of this stage. The chapter concludes by discussing implications for narrative care—practices that honor the unfolding stories of adults in this vital and transformative period.

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