Can we measure active aging? Development of a validated active aging measurement tool

Abstract

In recent years, various debates have emerged in the literature regarding the conceptualization of active aging. However, there is a lack of tools to assess active aging at the individual level. The aim of this paper is to develop a measurement tool and procedure for assessing active aging focused on an individual level, encompassing different elements of people’s lives, and providing an individual quantitative result for each person. To achieve this aim, a representative sample of 404 community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥ 60 years) from Galicia, Spain, was interviewed using a structured survey guided by a questionnaire. The tool is based on an empirically validated model of active aging, which comprises two broad categories (health and participation) as well as a measurement tool. The results presented demonstrate how a region in Spain is actively aging. The discussion highlights the potential of this tool, which integrates different approximations of the concept and underscores its importance in people’s lives.