About this Webinar

Jointly facilitated by German Society for Gerontology and Geriatrics (DGGG) and Gerontological Society of America (GSA), the webinar will address the fragmented landscape of research on strengths in advanced old age. Currently, there is a lack of systematic, integrated approaches within the behavioral and social sciences of aging to examine these strengths. Indeed, some would argue that there are no strengths to be researched in advanced old age. This webinar questions such a claim. It aims to advance the field conceptually, empirically, and in practice. It builds on a partnership between DGGG and GSA dedicated to fostering the GSA’s “Reframe Aging” initiative internationally.

Existing research on strengths in advanced old age has remained highly fragmented. A systematic, integrated approach within the behavioral and social sciences of aging to address strengths in advanced old age is largely missing. Yet, it is precisely advanced old age that most warrants a differentiated and empirically driven focus on remaining strengths. Major reasons are as follows: First, advanced old age is widely regarded as the most vulnerable life phase, characterized by the highest risks of loss in quality of life as well as substantial public health and long-term care costs. Hence, fostering an in-depth understanding of the remaining potential and resources of very old adults should be a high priority – a task that is currently not being accomplished. Second, debates on the Fourth Age in recent decades have largely adopted a negative framing of advanced old age across aging science, medical, and public discourse. Third, existing research on such strengths in advanced old age is highly fragmented and has not yet seen a systematic integrated method within the behavioral and social sciences of aging. This webinar aims to improve the situation at conceptual, empirical, and applied levels.

In this session, panelists will address key questions such as: What strengths and resources do very old adults bring to society? How do these differ across cultures? What can we learn from international approaches to aging well beyond the age of 80 years?

Presented by

• Dr. Tamara A. Baker, MA, PhD, FGSA, Gerontological Society of America (GSA) President, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine 
• Helene Fung, PhD, Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Ingmar Skoog, University of Gothenburg
• Prof. Dr. Denis Gerstorf, Humboldt University Berlin
• Karl Pillemer, PhD, Weill Cornell Medicine
• Prof. Dr. Hans-Werner Wahl, German Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Heidelberg University