Abstract
Although a particular paradigm of “successful aging” has become dominant in North American society, it is crucial that occupational therapists understand and support diverse ways of thinking about and enacting “aging well.” Grounded in the seminal work on successful aging carried out by Rowe and Kahn, a dominant successful aging paradigm permeates many aspects of North American society, such as research, social policies, health care, consumer culture, and media. Key characteristics of this paradigm, expressed in contemporary models of positive, healthy, active, and productive aging, include emphasis on enacting individual responsibility for achieving security and well-being in later life; maintaining independence and avoiding dependence; being productive and socially engaged; and maintaining a youthful mind, body, and lifestyle. Although the contributions of this paradigm to research and practice aimed at fostering occupational participation in later life are important, this chapter points to key concerns regarding determinantal social, occupational, and political effects arising from how this idealized vision of aging has been developed and promoted. In turn, examples of other ways of thinking about what it means to age well are provided to illustrate why it is vital to attend to diversity in occupational therapy practice with older adults.