The Myth of Self-Sufficiency and Independence as Successful Aging
In praise of a little dependence
Who doesn’t think of “dependence” with a surge of anxiety, when they think of getting old? Of course, we all want to live completely independent lives and then drop dead of ‘natural causes’ at a good ol’ age! Many consider this the benchmark for successful aging.
Not so long-ago gerontologists confirmed the goal of independence as we age, by defining “successful aging” along three dimensions, which all celebrate independence (the reference is at the end of the article):
- Low risk of disease and disease-related disability.
- Maintenance of high mental and physical function.
- Continued engagement with life, which includes relations with others and productive activity, either paid or volunteered.
If we place any store by this, then dependence apparently means you’re a burden (unproductive), a liability (diseased), and, oh my God — a failure!
By this definition, anyone with a cane, walker, or wheelchair, which are obvious signs of physical limitations and dependence, is marked as an unsuccessful elder.
To me, the above list sounds more like goals for a healthy youth than for an older person. Naturally, this…
