ABSTRACT
The population trends seen over the last decade are predominantly due to improvements in health services, environment and overall prosperity, which enable people to live longer. To ensure that living with long-term conditions becomes a more positive aging experience, there needs to be a 'whole-system approach' incorporating person-centred and relationship-centred care which have been cited as important concepts with the field of dementia and other long-term conditions. There are aspects of aging that are currently thought of as 'normal'. There is a growing body of evidence which demonstrates the positive relationship of social engagement with health and well-being in later life. However, this relationship is complex and varies based on gender and cultural differences and the quality, type and number of social connections. Evidence discussed demonstrates that aging is not solely a biological process, but also a psychosocial process whereby attitudes, self-perceptions and stereotypes of aging can affect cognitive and physical health outcomes.
