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33 - Aging and Capabilities

from Part III - Socio-Demographic Issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2019

By
Catherine Le Galès
Edited by
Rocío Fernández-Ballesteros ,
Athanase Benetos  and
Jean-Marie Robine
Rocío Fernández-Ballesteros
Affiliation:
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Athanase Benetos
Affiliation:
Université de Lorraine and Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) Nancy
Jean-Marie Robine
Affiliation:
INSERM
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Summary

This chapter describes the concept of successful aging and summarizes criticisms made of the Rowe and Khan’s model. Then, the capability approach initially developed by Amartya Sen and its key concepts are introduced. The value of this approach in the domain of (successful) aging is illustrated using examples of published or on-going empirical research. The first shows how the approach can help develop a methodological framework that enriches the definition and the operational implementation of the successful aging model while remaining within the spirit of the initial model. The following examples illustrate the advantage of using the capability approach as a theoretical framework. The works presented in this chapter were selected to show how the approach can provide a methodological framework to enrich the multi-dimensionality of the concept, go beyond the dichotomy (Successful/usual aging) of aging trajectories used in the Rowe and Khan's model, identify the determinants of these trajectories, evaluate courses of action taken and guide policy decisions. The capability approach thus transcends the reductionism and individualism criticized in the initial successful aging model.
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Successful Aging , pp. 610 - 626
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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