[An anthropological approach to senior citizens' health issues]

This paper discusses the specificity of the anthropological approach to aging. The theoretical framework is introduced and illustrated by presenting studies carried out in different societies. These studies describe a great diversity of forms of aging and experiences relative to growing old that allow us to distinguish two kinds of elements that influence aging: those inherent to aging as a biological process and those directly associated with the characteristics of the individual, the social dynamics, and prevailing public policies in each society. The anthropological approach considers the interaction between these two groups of factors.