The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the instability and fragmentation of the modern world, have necessitated a rethinking of aging and age-related transformations. One notable change has been the increased interest in socio-cultural and interdisciplinary interpretations of late adulthood, in which the focus has shifted from the biomedical model to the study of individual and structural factors shaping the experience of aging and age-related changes. These developments have affected both public perceptions of the older generation and scientific discourse, contributing to the emergence of new conceptual approaches and research paradigms. Special attention in recent works is given to the non-linear understanding of later life, where the primary focus is not on chronological age but on the subjective and socio-cultural characteristics of this stage of life. This study includes a review of scientific publications on aging and the lives of people aged 60+ published over the past five years. The main focus is on works in the field of social sciences. A total of 1,000 scientific articles published between 2021 and 2025 were analyzed. Among the key conclusions, the study highlights the importance of the individual perception of an active lifestyle by older adults themselves. It was found that employment and the possibility of work continue to play a significant role in maintaining social engagement and life activity. At the same time, health is increasingly perceived not merely as a sign of vulnerability or limitation, but as a factor supporting autonomy and a resource requiring conscious management. Research shows that respondents’ perception of their own health contributes to the continuation of an active life, regardless of age.
older people; studies of the older in the post-pandemic period; new approaches to the study of aging and the older; the COVID-19 pandemic; features of the study of the age of the older in Russia.