Positive Aging and Death or Dying: A Scoping Review

Background and Objectives This scoping review aims to examine the extent and the manner in which research that utilizes successful, active, productive, and healthy aging framework(s) includes death or dying. Research Design and Methods An examination of peer-reviewed academic journal articles was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute's methodological standards for scoping reviews and conforming to Arskey and O'Malley's 5-stage framework. The initial search resulted in 1,759 articles for review, and following the rigorous screening, 35 studies were included for the final review. A qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify how research utilizes the concepts of death and dying in the context of 4 positive aging models. Results The core themes identified include (a) the absence of death and dying dimensions in positive aging models; (b) older adults' outlooks on death and dying while aging well; (c) religious and spiritual dimensions of aging well; (d) negative consequences of positive aging models without death and dying dimensions; and (e) the future of death and dying in positive aging models. Discussion and Implications The review delivers a critique by researchers on the noticeable absence of death and dying processes within the framework of successful, active, productive, and healthy aging models. These findings represent a rich opportunity for future research on these concepts.

Automated summary

This scoping review examines the incorporation of death or dying in research utilizing successful, active, productive, and healthy aging frameworks. The study finds a lack of consideration for death and dying dimensions in positive aging models, explores older adults' perspectives on death and dying in relation to aging well, discusses the role of religion and spirituality, and highlights the negative consequences of excluding death and dying dimensions from positive aging models. These findings call for further research on these concepts.