Geriatric Nursing Commons^™

The Role Of Transcendence In A Holistic View Of Successful Aging : A Concept Analysis And Model Of Transcendence In Maturation And Aging., Valerie Lander Mccarthy, Amanda Bockweg

Faculty Scholarship

BACKGROUND: Although successful aging is most often defined by the absence of disease and disability, older adults consistently report aging successfully even in the presence of chronic illness and functional limitations. A more holistic way of looking at old age suggests transcendence may be an important missing criterion for successful aging.

AIM: Transcendence, a late life developmental process, appears to have a profound effect within the spiritual domain, but is an abstract, complex and unfamiliar concept. A clear understanding of the meaning of transcendence is necessary to explore the concept’s usefulness as a potential basis for future interventions to increase …

A New Look At Successful Aging : Exploring A Mid-Range Nursing Theory Among Older Adults In A Low-Income Retirement Community., Valerie Lander Mccarthy

Faculty Scholarship

The current view of successful aging excludes elders with disease or disability, limits the potential for success among disadvantaged populations, and fails to consider older adults’ own criteria for success, especially in the existential or spiritual domain. This cross-sectional study was a preliminary investigation of a mid-range nursing theory (Flood, 2005) of successful aging. A random, stratified sample (N= 112) was used. Questionnaires were administered to small groups of non-demented older adults. Relationships among study variables were examined using hierarchical multiple regression. Adaptation and transcendence explained 45.4% of the variance in successful aging, independent of age, income, function, and health. …