Models of successful ageing

Abstract

The concept of successful ageing is rather important for understanding its positive aspects. Although it has been present in the scientific literature for more than half a century, it is still not entirely clear what it means, thus the concept of successful ageing remains a challenge for scientific research. In order to gain a clearer picture of the complexity of this phenomenon, the models which represent successful ageing and which were created within the biomedical and psycho-social approach will be presented and then critically considered in this paper. In order to recognize their scientific and practical contributions, i.e. limitations, special attention will be paid to their mutual relations. Based on this analysis, the suggestions for future empirical studies of this phenomenon will be offered.