Coping with ageing

Abstract

Old age is the last stage in the life span and with the change from middle age to old age it envisages a series of adjustments, in behaviour and thinking to meet the demands of a waning existence punctuated by disease, disability and disbelief. Central to coping with personal ageing is the acceptance of its reality. Happy ageing consists of adjusting to the demands of the stage and using the time and resource available beneficially to oneself and others. The role of maintaining good physical and mental health and cultivating appropriate attitudes towards it, is a requirement that can hardly be overstressed. Empirical studies have shown the significant contribution of several variables to successful ageing.