What does the term "compression of morbidity" signify?

The term "compression of morbidity" refers to a concept in gerontology that aims to reduce the time an individual spends with illness or disability at the end of life. This concept emphasizes maintaining health and functional ability for as long as possible, thereby compressing the period of morbidity into a shorter timeframe, ideally leading to a more active and healthier late life.

Choosing to focus on maintaining health until death aligns with the goal of compression of morbidity, which is to avoid prolonged suffering from chronic conditions or disabilities that can negatively impact quality of life in the later years. The idea is that while individuals may live longer, the time spent in ill health should be minimized.

The other options describe aspects of health and care, but they do not directly capture the essence of compression of morbidity. For instance, prolonging the period of illness contradicts the concept, while reducing the duration of disability is a part of it but does not encompass the whole idea of maintaining overall health. Minimizing healthcare costs does not directly relate to the well-being and health span of individuals, which is the central focus of compression of morbidity.