Active Ageing across the Life Course: Towards a Comprehensive Approach to Prevention

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Policy
• Sociology

Background:

• The European Union (EU) widely adopted 'active ageing' as a primary framework for addressing demographic shifts over the past two decades.
• In contrast, the United States has predominantly focused on 'successful ageing' discourses.
• This review examines the evolution of active ageing strategies and their comparison with successful ageing and other 'ageing well' concepts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To chart the development of active ageing responses to demographic change.
• To compare active ageing with successful ageing and related concepts.
• To identify limitations in current interpretations and propose a more comprehensive approach.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific and policy documents on ageing.
• Conceptual analysis comparing different ageing frameworks.
• Critical evaluation of the application of active ageing strategies and tools like the Active Ageing Index.

Main Results:

• Active ageing policies in practice are often narrowly defined by economic or productivist interpretations, prioritizing extended working lives.
• These narrow interpretations risk undermining the broader value of active ageing and neglect the life course.
• The Active Ageing Index, while a useful tool, has not yet fully incorporated a comprehensive view of active ageing or the life course.

Conclusions:

• A more holistic and comprehensive approach to active ageing is essential for effectively addressing population ageing.
• The concept of active ageing remains valuable for understanding and responding to the challenges of an ageing population.
• Future strategies must integrate life course perspectives to fully realize the potential of active ageing.