Expanding the Circle of Knowledge: Reconceptualizing Successful Aging Among North American Older Indigenous Peoples

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Indigenous older peoples’ voices and experiences remain largely absent in the dominant models and critical scholarship on aging and late life. This paper examines the relevance of the model of successful aging for Indigenous peoples in North America. Method This paper presents the results of a review of the published conceptual literature on successful aging among Indigenous peoples. Our intent was to explore the current state of the field of successful aging among Indigenous peoples and suggest dimensions that may be more reflective of Indigenous voices and experiences that leads to a more inclusive model of successful aging. Results Based on our review, we suggest four dimensions that may broaden understandings of successful aging to be more inclusive of Indigenous older people: Health and wellness, Empowerment and resilience, Engagement and behavior, and Connectedness. Discussion Our review suggests that Indigenous peoples’ voices and experiences are beginning to be included in academic literature on successful aging. However, we suggest that understandings of successful aging be broadened based on our summative findings and a process of community involvement. Such processes can lead to the development of models that are more inclusive to a wide range of older people, including Indigenous older peoples.