Objective To clarify the connotation of vitality in older adults, and to provide references for clarifying the concept, deve-loping assessment tools for older adults, and optimizing care strategies for them.Methods Using descriptive qualitative research and purposive sampling, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 senior practitioners and experts in the field of older people care services from October to December 2024.Content analysis was used to analyze the data.Results Three themes and eleven sub-themes were extracted:physiological vitality (mobility, nutrition, self-care ability), psychological vitality (internal drive, cognitive function, mental status, openness to knowledge, self-worth) and social vitality (social interaction, autonomous behavior, social adaptation).Conclusion Vitality in older adults consists of multidimensional elements that involve physiological vitality, psychological vitality and social vitality.Clarifying the connotation of vitality in older adults can help to develop intervention strategies to maintain older adults′ quality of life from a more positive perspective.