“AN EXPLORATIVE GERONTOLOGICAL STUDY TO DETERMINE CAPABILITIES THAT AFFECT SUCCESSFUL AGEING IN PAKISTANI OLDER WOMEN”

Abstract

There is a shift in global demographic trends, with a rising number of aged population worldwide and similar trends can be observed in Pakistan. Aged Pakistani women remain one of the most vulnerable marginalized group. This qualitative research aimed to explore the understanding of ‘Successful ageing’ according to Pakistani older women and target the traditional ‘dependency’ mindset towards the elderly. To this effect, the role of education and economic independence was also realized as being contributory towards successful ageing . In addition, it brought forth the impact of capabilities on the components of successful ageing. Successful ageing was operationalized by using Rowe and Kahn’s model of Successful Ageing while capabilities of the aged women were understood under the umbrella of Capability Approach by Martha Nussbaum. She classified capabilities under basic, internal, and combined capabilities, in the condition that all three need to be met in order for it to result in a function. In pursuit, this explorative qualitative study was conducted by means of 12, face-to-face, in-depth interviews using multifaceted contexts regarding education and employment status of the women, through purposive and snowball sampling strategies. The target locale was sector G-8 and G-9, Islamabad Pakistan. Results were processed and analyzed using thematic analysis after extensive assessment of the patterns in interview responses being clustered under one theme and further subthemes. In conclusion, the components of Successful ageing by Rowe and Kahn (1997) were studied and expanded in the Pakistani context. Which proved that in addition to the components of successful ageing by Rowe and Kahn (1997) like avoiding disease and disability, maintaining physical and cognitive functioning, and active engagement with life, the study brought forth positive spirituality in terms of religious reliance and positive attitude towards life, as an equal contributor towards successful ageing of Pakistani older women. Subthemes under each of these components brought forth the understanding of each in the Pakistani context, which was explained in terms of their capabilities. Lastly, policy implications were put forth such as senior centers for older people as walk-in facilitation centers as well as socialization activity centers to avoid social isolation for the elderly. Education as a strong accentuate for successful ageing and efficient, inclusive pension systems for the elderly.