The reablement approach is becoming a popular social and health-care model in many Western countries, providing support strategies for older people experiencing impairment. Reablement programmes have been criticised for a lack of theories, explicating the understanding of the problem that it is intended to address, i.e. ageing and impairment in old age. We need to discuss the inherent theories in intervention programmes to question taken-for-granted assumptions about not only what works, but also how these assumptions affect the sociocultural models of ageing. Theories on successful ageing have been suggested as underpinning reablement. This article aims to present and discuss theories of successful ageing compared to key principles, components and outcomes in reablement. A medical and epidemiological, a psychological and a sociocultural theoretical approach to successful ageing are included. Contemporary reablement programmes mirror medical and psychological theories of successful ageing, including models of ageing that are associated with continuity, optimisation, selection, individuality and goal orientation. Most reablement programmes do not address sociocultural perspectives on ageing. As older people experience impairment in a pertinent liminality within and between the sociocultural values of the third and fourth age, it is important for reablement programmes and practice to consider the theoretical assumptions and underpinning theories of ageing and how to help older people balance between optimising capacity and accepting losses in their everyday life.

康复方法正在成为许多西方国家流行的社会和医疗保健模式，为有障碍的老年人提供支持策略。重新启用计划因缺乏理论而受到批评，无法阐明对其旨在解决的问题的理解，即。衰老和老年损伤。我们需要讨论干预计划的内在理论，以质疑那些理所当然的假设，不仅什么有效，而且这些假设如何影响老龄化的社会文化模型。成功老龄化理论被认为是康复的基础。本文旨在介绍和讨论成功老龄化的理论以及康复的关键原则、组成部分和结果。其中包括成功老龄化的医学和流行病学、心理学和社会文化理论方法。当代的康复计划反映了成功老龄化的医学和心理学理论，包括与连续性、优化、选择、个性和目标导向相关的老龄化模型。大多数康复计划并未涉及老龄化的社会文化观点。由于老年人在第三和第四年龄段的社会文化价值观之内和之间的相关界限受到损害，因此重新启动计划和实践必须考虑老龄化的理论假设和基础理论，以及如何帮助老年人在优化能力之间取得平衡并接受日常生活中的损失。