Conclusion
This concept analysis provides a critical step in the process of developing knowledge related to wellness in older adults and geriatric nursing. The evolutionary approach to concept analysis was chosen as its philosophical foundation emphasizes the dynamic nature and contextual dependence of concepts. Analyzing the evolution of wellness in older adults and its attributes, antecedents, consequences, and related concepts clarifies the concept. In turn, this provides a base upon which to further develop the concept so that through evolution, its use among older adults and utility in geriatric nursing increases. The wellness concept, as viewed in literature reviewed for this analysis, provides inherent reinforcement that wellness is a relevant concept in older adulthood. Increased knowledge of wellness will enable nurses to discover the strengths of older adults, thereby promoting their ongoing growth and development. Continued development of wellness within geriatric nursing will provide a foundation for building new care models that address behavioral risks and illness prevention in older adult populations.
Acknowledgments. This project was supported by grants from the John A. Hartford Foundation/Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Program and the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing, Research Grant #F31NR012351.