Redefining the Successful Aging of Veterans: A Scoping Review.

Background And Objectives: The aging experiences of military veterans provide critical insights into what successful aging is and means for later life contexts constrained by distinct health and social needs. Can veterans "successfully" age when they are exposed to so many stressors with serious health and social consequences for later life? Veterans can offer valuable lessons for developing comprehensive approaches to refining successful aging, ensuring inclusivity of different older populations. Building on Rowe and Kahn's idea of successful aging, we utilize the complementary concept of "active aging" to explore if there are unique factors, characteristics, and interventions that support active aging in veterans, compared with nonveteran populations.