Abstract:
Alaska's older adults are growing faster in proportion to the overall population creating concern regarding how adequate care will be provided in the coming years. Statewide, rural community members are looking for innovative, culturally appropriate ways to promote successful aging for their growing population of elders, allowing them to age in their home communities. This qualitative, phenomenological study sought to establish a deeper understanding of how Alaska Native Elders in Northwest Alaska understand and experience successful aging to inform program development and service delivery. The present project was embedded within a larger community-based participatory research study and conducted in collaboration with community members and an Alaska Native Elder Advisory Committee. The 14 community-nominated Elder participants universally identified engagement with family and community, self-awareness and care, and a sense of gratitude as essential elements of successful aging. Elders who age successfully listened to and learned from their Elders, enact their traditional values and practices, and pass their wisdom and knowledge to future generations. The results provide a culture and context specific understanding of successful aging that will help communities develop Elder-centered programs and service delivery and contributes to field of successful aging by presenting a perspective of successful aging that is not currently represented in the literature. Finally, by recording the Elders' knowledge and stories of successful aging this project also helped preserve some of the traditional cultural knowledge held by Elders in this region to be shared with generations to come.
