Productive Engagement of Older Adults: Elements of a Cross-Cultural Research Agenda

Population aging is affecting almost every country in the world and has become a global issue. This demographic shift creates huge challenges and opportunities in societies where the population of older adults is large and growing. A productive aging perspective that addresses the challenges of an aging population by drawing on the capacity of the older population is critical. Knowledge about the best ways to support such productive engagement will be essential to shaping societies where older adults, families, and communities all benefit. Culturally-specific and cross-cultural knowledge is also needed. This paper reviews four key elements of a cross-cultural research agenda to develop knowledge on productive engagement in later life: definitions, theoretical frameworks, key research questions, and core values. The aim of this paper is to catalyze research on an important topic and to ensure that this research is carried forward as effectively as possible. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York.