ABSTRACT
This article focuses on the role of communication in the successful adjustments and
adaptations to normal aging by elders. It views communication as an essential tool
for living safely and independently, for maintaining interests and a sense of purpose,
for continuing important social and family relationships, and for exercising active
control over quality of life and care. The discussion emphasizes the importance of
physical and social environments to elders' communication efforts and suggests that
an environmental approach to the communication problems of many elders may be more
beneficial than the remediation of specific speech-language skills.
KEY WORDS
successful aging - physical environments - social contexts
