This article explored the meanings and elements of successful aging in later life. In order to examine the issue of concern, 100 undergraduate students and elderly were selected and interviewed using an open-ended survey questionnaire. These questions explored understandings of successful aging and factors essential for successful aging.
Results from the content analyses of the respondents´ descriptions of successful aging indicated that (1) the overwhelming majority of elderly primarily focused on their present situation rather than the future goals, (2) the large majority of elderly focused on the subject themselves than there children or spouse, (3) seven elements of successful aging were personal growth, comfortable living, duty fulfuillment, self-acceptance with others, helping others, and autonomy, which was indicated as the most important one. These results strongly suggested that the education program in later life consisted of the seven factors of successful aging.
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