人口老化趨勢下，老人學研究已不僅關注在已生病或功能障礙的老人照顧上，還應使所有老年人的生活更健康、更滿足。成功老化因此成為新興研究議題，希望能夠超越生物年紀以及從基因、生物醫學、行為、社會因素等方面來促進人們在老年生活的能力與功能。 成功老化研究中有系統且被廣泛運用的觀點有二：一是Baltes & Baltes的「選擇、最適化與補償」模式，老年生活可透過自我心理調整適應和個人行為改變的過程，考量系統與生態環境，經由教育、動機、健康相關活動等策略，可以達到成功老化的目標。另一是Rowe & Kahn的三元素模式：避免疾病與失能；維持高度心智與身體功能；老年生活的積極承諾。當三面向同時達成時即達到成功老化的狀態。透過疾病預防（例如飲食與運動）、生物醫學途徑、教育、社會支持、增進自我效能等策略，可以幫助達到成功老化。 雖然實證研究已不斷累積，但其成功老化的操作型定義不一，因此不易推行到實務層面來設定健康目標的優先順序。同時，成功老化的定義具有文化特異性，國內相關研究尚不多見，因此建議應定義臺灣老人之成功老化指標，以描述臺灣成功老化之情形，進而探討影響老人成功老化之危險因子與保護因子，以提供老年健康促進政策之參考。

Under the worldwide aging trend in recent decades, gerontological studies have focused not only on the care of the ill or disabled elders, but also on the thoughts of how to make the elder's life healthier and more satisfactory. Studies of 'successful aging' become a new study issue and hope to promote capacities and functions in the genes, biomedical, behavioral, and social aspects of the elder's life beyond their biological limits. Two models of successful aging studies are often applied. One is Baltes & Baltes' "selection, optimization, compensation" model, which emphasizes the process of psychological adjustment and changing self behaviors, considering systematic and ecological view, and through education, motivation, health-promotion related activities and strategies of knowledge and technology, to attain the goal of successful aging. The other model is Rowe & Kahn's three-element model: "low risks of diseases and disability, high physical and mental function, and engagement with life". Successful aging is attained when all three dimensions are simultaneously achieved. The strategies to promote successful aging include disease prevention （e.g., diet and exercise）, biomedical approach, education, social support, increasing self efficacy, etc. Though many empirical studies have done, the operational definition of successful aging was not consistent in previous studies. Thus, it is difficult to set policy priorities or goals for health promotion for elders. Meanwhile, the concept and definition of successful aging is specific to culture. Relevant studies in Taiwan are not much yet. To define successful aging and indexes to describe the elders successful aging status in Taiwan is suggested to be the first priority. In the future, we need to explore the risk factors and protective factors of successful aging in order to give policy suggestions of health promotions for the elders.