Ageing linked to health is an important issue when the older population increases. The Healthy Ageing Working Group has, therefore, a focus on research and discussions concerning older people’s health from a Nordic perspective. The term Healthy Ageing was first known through a European Union project in 2004-2007. It was defined as the process of optimizing opportunities for physical, social, and mental health to enable older people to take an active part in society without discrimination and to enjoy an independent and good quality of life (The Swedish National Institute of Public Health, 2006). This definition of Healthy Ageing highlights key values such as participation, justice and equality (freedom from discrimination), and autonomy (independence). Healthy Ageing is based on the same values as the WHO (2002) definition of Active Ageing, which also emphasizes safety, Health Promotion Guidelines (WHO, 1986), and the Right to Health (WHO, 2012).
The Healthy Ageing Working Group applies theory and perspectives from the humanities and social sciences in order to understand the specific contexts in which people age. The Nordic welfare states and their ongoing changes are an important background for the discussions. The group´s understanding of health promotion is grounded in the perception that history, climate, geography, culture, and democracy development are prerequisites for health and well-being in daily life.
The group recognizes the importance of the voices of the older person, and the research performed by the group is therefore primarily qualitative, with an empirical focus on interviews, narratives, and text analysis. Central concepts are dignity, autonomy, participation, and a sense of security, concepts that we explore empirically and theoretically.
updated 2025-06-20
Current active members of the group
nhprn 