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With increases in life expectancy, delayed onset of morbidity, and higher expectations for old age, interest in well-being in later life and how to achieve it has intensified.‘Successful ageing’has come to the fore as a goal for the ageing population. While an agreed definition of successful ageing remains elusive, there is broad agreement that core constituents include physical health and functioning, psychological wellbeing, and social functioning and participation (1). As the older population surges both in absolute and relative numbers, well-being in old age has also become a focus for policy-makers as a key indicator of the physical and psychological health, social integration and economic security of the older community.

Despite the adverse changes that occur with increasing age, older people typically report high levels of well-being. Most feel younger than their actual age and maintain a sense of confidence and purpose. In the HeSSOP (Health and Social Services for Older People) surveys of older people in Ireland, conducted in 2000 and 2004, over three-quarters of community-dwelling older people scored high on morale (2, 3). In fact, older people are more likely to report satisfaction with their lives than younger people (4). Old age, it appears, brings with it an ability to adapt to age-