Quality Aging

Our culture has an ageist bias whereby the aged are discriminated against; they are treated stereotypically rather than as individuals. Emphasis on aging's positive aspects, or quality aging, can conteract discrimination at its beginnings. Individuals who are models of quality aging exhibit certain characteristics: they are needed, they belong to a community, and they have good health habits. There is a sense of investent in the future. Quality aging reflects a healthy spiritual life, and is posisble for all aged persons, even the infirm, if they receive the necessary support to remain in community life.