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Positive ageing: the views of middle-aged and older adults in Hong Kong

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2006

ALICE MING-LIN CHONG
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong.
SIK-HUNG NG
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong.
JEAN WOO
Affiliation:
Department of Community and Family Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong.
ALEX YUI-HUEN KWAN
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong.

Abstract

Life expectancy has been increasing rapidly in many parts of the world, including Hong Kong. A longer life can be welcome as an opportunity to fulfil as yet unmet aspirations, or to take up new challenges and projects, but it may also be a burden, especially for individuals who are unprepared. A pressing question for longer-life societies is: how may older people live their longer lives to the full positively? This article reports a qualitative study of Hong Kong Chinese people's views about ‘positive ageing’, as expressed and discussed in 15 focus groups of middle-aged and older people. Two themes emerged: first, the participants considered that positive ageing should comprise good health, having a positive life attitude, active engagement with an activity or with society, feeling supported by their families and friends, being financially secure, and living in a place with emotional ties; and secondly, several key factors that enable positive ageing were identified, namely, adopting a healthy lifestyle, thinking positively, promoting family and inter-personal relationships, and building up financial resources. The views of the participants about ‘positive ageing’ are compared with those reported from western studies, and the policy implications are considered.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press

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