A recent study found a correlation between social participation and successful aging among people aged 60 and above. The researchers discovered that those engaged in volunteer work or recreational activities were more likely to maintain excellent health over a three-year period. This study shifts the definition of successful aging to include both objective and subjective measures, not excluding those with non-disabling chronic conditions.
The findings highlight the potential benefits of social activities, and the practice of ‘social prescribing’ by medical professionals, in promoting healthy aging.
Key Facts:
1.Those participating in volunteer work or recreational activities were more likely to maintain excellent health and less likely to develop physical, cognitive, mental, or emotional problems over the study period.
2. The study’s definition of successful aging encompassed both objective and subjective measures of health, allowing for those with non-disabling chronic conditions to be classified as aging successfully.
3. ‘Social prescribing’, a practice where medical professionals prescribe social activities, is gaining traction as a non-pharmacological intervention to support health in older adults.
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