The results of this study were divided into two general themes: The view of the middle-aged with respect to healthy aging and the strategies to achieve it.
Elderly interviewees provided various views on healthy aging but four main themes were obtained: having good physical and mental health, having financial well-being, having social support. The themes are interlinked and explain the middle-aged peoples’ view of aging.
The most common health dimension is physical health, which can be more easily evaluated than other aspects of health. In the present study, participants reported being in good physical health having no chronic illnesses and functional independence as one of the first signs of healthy aging.
1-1-1. Lack of chronic disease
Aging is also a period when the elderly are exposed to potential threats such as increased risk of chronic diseases. Many middle-aged people also considered the absence of chronic disease as healthy aging, as one participant said
“Being healthy means getting old and not having a disease, for example, not having hypertension, not being fat or suffering from diabetes. or very dangerous diseases such as cancer which can be seen, but I look around and most of them have various diseases …” (46 years old woman).
“A healthy elderly person is one that can afford to look after themselves and does not need the help of others.; can see to her own things and be healthy as it’ is hard to get old and need the help of your child ...” (52 years old woman)
1–2. Having Good Mental Health:
The mental health of the elderly is as important as their physical health and has a significant effect on the health of the individual and society. Having good mental health from the point of view of the middle-aged person falls into two categories of lack of mental discomfort and enjoyment of life.
“A healthy elderly person is one who has a healthy spirit, and is not depressed. Depression itself brings sickness. When there is no anxiety and stress, well, elderly people are healthier” (48 years old woman).
“A healthy old man is someone who, although aged, is happy inside and is not sad and is still able to chat, laugh, and have fun …... In fact, aging is a chance to enjoy life” (56 years old man).
1–3. Having Financial Well-being:
One of the biggest misfortunes facing the elderly, and perhaps the most important is poverty. From the perspective of the middle-aged participants in this study, having enough money and wealth is a sign of health and an important factor for health in old age. Middle-aged people consider capitalists as healthy and stated that having money is a basic need for one to be healthy. This concept consists of two sub-categories of having sufficient financial resources and having financial independence.
“For elderly people to be healthy they need money, they need capital and savings; if you have money, everyone’s around you. When you have money, you have mental peace as well as a healthy body” (53 years old man).
“An elderly person who makes a living and has an income and has no financial need of anyone is certainly healthier and has good spirits. I see some old men walking in the park aimlessly..........” (50 years old woman)
1–4. Having Social Support:
Social support plays a very important role in maintaining the health of the elderly in such a way that those with higher social support have a better health status. In the present study, social support was expressed in the form of emotional support from the family as well as instrumental support from those around the health components of aging.
“You know it's good to be old when you’re healthy, not physically, but because of one’s family support as it is the most important factor; to have a warm and affectionate family, considerate and loving” (55 years old man).
“Health means not be alone during hardships in life when you get old; there is always someone to help or visit you every now and then ...” (55 years old woman)
2. Strategies for achieving healthy aging:
Many common problems in old age can be prevented. Appropriate solutions must be taken before reaching old age to ensure good health. Participants have identified several strategies for achieving healthy aging that are generally broken down into 5 sections: Future financial planning, promoting physical health, promoting psychological health, maintaining and improving communication are essential strategies for achieving healthy aging from the perspective of the middle-aged.
2 − 1. Financial Planning For The Future
Participants place greater emphasis on economic factors and believe that “everything depends on money, even health, depends on money”. Wealth is the most important provider of healthy aging. Participants believe that having money is a prerequisite for health, and not having money is the biggest obstacle to good health and healthy aging. Financial planning and forecasting financial needs for the future are essential for healthy aging. To have healthy aging, you need to save money and invest wisely beforehand.
“Work while you are young and save money so that you have saved up enough for your old age and do not need anyone because you cannot always work and will not always be strong and young and have to have a source of income and capital...” (45 years old man).
“If you don’t have an income, you won’t have a good life, and you may not remain healthy, which will reduce your quality of life; many are looking for a job to make a living, if you have a good job, you’ll have financial independence, motivation and goals….” (49 years old woman).
2–2. Physical Health Promotion
To have healthy aging the most important and most basic aspect of health is promoting physical health. Middle-aged people in the present study stated that those who had more physical activity and a healthier nutritious diet when younger would certainly experience a healthy aging.
A 50 years old woman commented: “Someone who is well fed from youth, although it may not be luxurious food but good enough, and consistent, nutritious, when they get old, will be healthier than others” (58 years old man).
“Exercise should be a priority in life for sure. There is no need for heavy exercise light exercise like walking is very effective for the health of the elderly.” (47 year old woman).
2–3. Promoting Psychological Health
One of the most important issues faced by the elderly is psychological health problems, so paying attention to these issues before reaching told age and preventing the damage caused by them is important. From a middle-aged perspective, promoting mental health through kindness, positive thinking, happiness, and spiritual connection are effective strategies for health in aging:
“Be kind to other human beings because we believe that the more kindness we show to other creatures, human or animals, and the more we live together in peace and friendship, the greater it will affect our own mental health” (50 years old man).
“If we strengthen our imagination and positive thinking as capable human beings and experience the positive aspects of our life in the universe, we must also realize that we must remain healthy, sound, energetic ...” (47 years old man).
People must be happy and care for themselves. The more a man cares for himself and is happy, the better he feels. It’s very good to be happy, it’s very effective. Those who live happily, live longer.
“Belief in God is very important to a person. He must believe that aging is not the end and death is not the end of life. Aging is a good opportunity for self-knowledge and ultimately knowing God.” (56 years old woman).
2–4. Maintaining And Expanding Communications
From the perspective of middle-aged people in the study, communicating with others and not being alone are effective in promoting healthy aging. Communication with those around in aging can lead to good mental health and, in some cases, improve physical health, so maintaining and expanding relationships are of the essential strategies for achieving healthy aging.
“In old age, you should be accompanied by your loved one a, your companion and not be alone, being alone makes a man feel depressed and not care about his health, neither his mental health, nor his physical health. If one is mentally healthy, their body will be healthy.” (48 years old man).
2-4-2Keeping people satisfied: Participants believed that we should not push others away from us, as having relationships and maintaining them with those around during aging is effective on health. Keeping people satisfied by being kind to them and helping others can be a supporting factor for healthy aging. A 59 years old woman says: “If you are kind, everyone will want to stay with you, but if you are sharp and bother others, when you get old, everyone will leave you….”