Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the role of social determinants of health: gender, income, education, housing, and social connections in successful aging in older adults aging with illness. Participants were 50 adults aged 65–90 years, all aging in place in their own home, and reporting at least one illness. This pilot study used non-probability sampling and employed both online and in-person interviews. The majority (82%) were aging “successfully” or “somewhat successfully” as reported on the single item successful aging scale and demonstrated by their scores on the Successful Aging Inventory (SAI). Correlations were not significant between SAI and gender, income, education, or housing. A significant negative correlation was found between SAI and community activity. However, there were significant positive correlations between SAI and religious activity and relationships. The regression model was a linear combination of participants’ community and religious activity and relationships. The majority of older adults aging with illness consider themselves to be aging successfully, but their scores are influenced by relationships with others as well as religious and community activity. Frequent community activity had a suppressor effect on successful aging.
Highlights
Aging is an experience that can be endured or embraced
Given that the majority of adults over 65 years old are living with at least one illness, we considered that social determinants of health may hold the key to enhancing successful aging among those over 65 years of age
This study explores the research question: Do the social determinants of health as income, education, social connectedness, gender, and housing stability play a role in successful aging with illness? A cross-sectional, observational design was used, with non-probability sampling methods self-selection and snowball sampling [6]
Summary
Aging is an experience that can be endured or embraced. Successful aging focuses on embracing the journey and “adding life to years not years to life” [1]. It includes life satisfaction and connection to loved ones [2]. We identified that success in aging is associated with self-reported health, resilience, and engagement [3]. This study focused on whether “social determinants of health,”. Such as gender, social connectedness, income insufficiency, lack of education, and housing stability influence successful aging with illness [4]. People with higher socioeconomic status (SES) typically have higher levels of education and income, better health, and are more likely to engage in health protective behaviours (e.g., engage in health screening, exercise, and healthy eating habits); lower SES is normally associated with lower income and education levels and is often associated with illness and chronic disease [5]
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