Faculty Present Series

Rethinking Successful Aging: Centering Disability in How We Define Aging Well

Older adults with disabilities are often left out of dominant narratives about “successful aging,” which tend to equate aging well with the absence of illness or impairment. This presentation shares findings from a pilot study that examined how care managers and social workers define successful aging for disabled versus non-disabled older adults and whether disability-affirming training can shift those perceptions. Drawing on eight domains of successful aging, we explore where biases persist, where definitions are expanding, and what it will take for aging services to fully integrate disability as a valued dimension of human diversity. Participants in this workshop will gain insights into how ableism subtly shapes practice and learn strategies for creating affirming, inclusive, and person-centered definitions of aging well.