A Transformative Service Research viewpoint on responsible aging

Purpose This viewpoint on “Responsible aging: integrating individual and intergenerational well-being” (Heinonen et al., 2025) develops a transformative service research (TSR) perspective on the role of aging in human life and human service systems. Design/methodology/approach From a TSR perspective, five topics are explored as the essential context of human life: human experience, suffering, well-being, well-becoming and service systems. Findings Aging is about gaining time rather than losing it. Further, lived time is the essential measure of the duration of each human life. During any human experience, reducing suffering, improving well-being and enabling well-becoming should be priorities for responsible aging. Human service systems are the essential context for improvements in aging. Social implications Human societies have been organized since prehistory to support the lives of their tribes, villages and communities. Modern human service systems need to learn how to support responsible aging. Originality/value This viewpoint’s TSR perspective offers new possibilities for understanding aging and for serving humanity’s needs as aging occurs.