I wonder if robots will take care of me when I am old: positive aging representations of professionals working in health promotion servicesositive aging representations of professionals working in health promotion services

Abstract

How the social and institutional context is structured and represented by its actors has an impact on positive aging representations. This qualitative study explores professionals’ views on positive aging, how they promote positive aging in their practice and what disparities occur between their discourses and the actual practice of promoting positive aging. Interviews were conducted with professionals from different active aging promotion services and analyzed with thematic coding. Findings show professionals hold negative views on aging while trying to promote positive views in their work, illustrating an existing theory-practice gap. Strategies used in practice can be integrated in existing agency models and inform interventions and active aging policies.