Older Adults’ Wellbeing

Abstract

As global life expectancy continues to rise secondary to medical, technological, information, and public health advancements, there is an increased need for the development of sustainable health policies and systems for older adults. Collaboration is required across a multitude of public and private sector health systems for the health and wellbeing of older adults ensuring the availability, accessibility, and delivery of appropriate health and long-term care services, as well as implementation of age-friendly policies with targeted financial resources. This chapter characterizes sustainable health systems for the wellbeing of older adults across life domains and to protect their rights to successful aging across the continuum of in-place or residential care living environments. We provide an overview on key historical events and practices that have guided community-level health and wellbeing supports for older adults to background current related practices. Next, we discuss the leading current approaches in community-wellbeing focused interventions for older adults, providing practical insights on how these approaches would reduce the health disparities and inequalities of an aging society. Moreover, we discuss the influences of culture, professional practices, and legislation on community health supports for older adults in their diversity. We then provide an overview of the interdisciplinary nature of sustainable community health interventions with older adults. Finally, we identify the issues for research and other forms of scholarship in design and implementation of sustainable community health systems for the older adult population.