Productive aging: a quality of life agenda

Although the fact that, in general, the US population is living longer is said to be the public health success story of the 20th century, the boom in the population aged 65 years and older is having and will continue to have major implications for all age groups as well as for the nation's health, social, and economic institutions. The concept of productive aging can provide guidance in addressing these implications. The assumptions of productive aging reflect today's reality that older people are repositories of wisdom and experience and important assets for society; relatively healthy, with the potential for maintaining that condition until late in life; capable of making economic and social contributions that benefit themselves, their families, and their communities; and in need of purposeful and meaningful roles and activities in life. A productive aging activity model emphasizes involvement in paid work, volunteerism, education, fitness and exercise, leisure and travel, advocacy and political action, and consumerism. This article discusses the concept of productive aging, a related activity model, and qualitative focus group research undertaken in conjunction with the 1995 White House Conference on Aging.