Objective:

To know and interpret the experiences and meanings attributed by elderly people living in community to satisfactory aging.

Method:

qualitative research, with a dialectical hermeneutic approach by George Gadamer, carried out in the metropolitan area of Uruguay, 2015-2016; 23 elderly people participated.

Results:

categories were identified: historical awareness with three subcategories: family, society and state in which we live; another category carries the tradition with two subcategories: judgments and limits.

Conclusions:

it was possible to know the perceptions of successful aging from the experiences of older people, emphasizing family relationships as a fundamental pillar of support to stay active and healthy; health promotion is important, older people have a body that suffers ailments, staying active, they are people with mental health, since they referenced that while the mind walks everything can go well. The expectation is focused on being resilient, this being the main point to follow day by day along the way.

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