What is Ageing Well?

Above: Ngaire Kerse presenting at the CoCreate Age 2025 Showcase

There is much written about ageing well. The Joyce Cook Chair in Ageing Well has written a report about what ageing well means. Together with colleagues, a new definition for ageing well has been suggested:

“Ageing well is reflected in good physical health, mental well-being, and social connections and engagement enabling full participation in life. Ageing well is supported by financial adequacy, appropriate housing, access to necessary services, and an inclusive society.”

Ageing well, of course, begins at conception and continues throughout life. While much of the research focuses on older people, it is also useful to think about strategies that improve ageing well across the life course. For example, good nutrition and cognitive stimulation for young children reduces the chance of developing dementia later in life. Healthy exercise habits maintain well-being and function through midlife into later years, and avoiding poor choices such as excessive alcohol and smoking also supports successful ageing.

The structure of society and the opportunities people have significantly influence ageing. For example, those who grew up in deprivation and were unable to make choices throughout life may age less well. So, in your work and in your life, think about how you yourself can age well and how your actions, beliefs, and attitudes can either promote or inhibit the ageing well of others.