scholarly journals Advancing Research and Policy on Social Exclusion of Older People: Towards a Coherent and Critical Discourse

2021 ◽  
pp. 435-450
Author(s):  
Thomas Scharf ◽  
Kieran Walsh ◽  
Sofie Van Regenmortel ◽  
Anna Wanka
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Individual ◽  
New Research ◽  
Conceptual Research ◽  
Different Parts

AbstractThis concluding chapter outlines key contributions of the book, indicating how the individual chapters have pushed beyond the current state-of-the-art scientific knowledge on social exclusion of older people. Drawing together some of the major cross-cutting themes emerging from the different parts of the book, the chapter highlights interconnections between the contributing chapters and deepens our understanding of the conceptual framing of social exclusion of older people. We use this frame as a basis for developing a new research agenda that relates not only to future empirical and conceptual research, but also to policy development in the field of social exclusion in later life.

scholarly journals Social Exclusion in Older-Age and the European Pillar of Social Rights

2021 ◽  
pp. 421-431
Author(s):  
Maciej Kucharczyk
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Social Rights ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Goods And Services

AbstractThe European Pillar of Social Rights is about delivering new and more effective rights for Europeans. It builds upon 20 key principles, structured around three categories: equal opportunities and access to the labour market; fair working conditions; and social protection and inclusion. Directly relevant to older people, the Pillar has the potential to address the multidimensionality of exclusion in later life from a rights-based perspective – for example, by enhancing the rights to quality and affordable health and long-term care, to adequate pensions to live in dignity, to age-friendly working conditions and an inclusive labour market, or to access goods and services. Despite these valuable elements, there remains significant uncertainly around how the Pillar will achieve this and what kind of implemental actions might emerge across member states. This chapter analyses the potential of the European Pillar to address social exclusion of older people in Europe, the challenges that might impede its efforts, and the measures necessary to overcome such challenges.

scholarly journals Experiences of neighbourhood exclusion and inclusion among older people living in deprived inner-city areas in Belgium and England

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
TINE BUFFEL ◽  
CHRIS PHILLIPSON ◽  
THOMAS SCHARF
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Inner City ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Ethnically Diverse ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Place And Space

ABSTRACTThis article explores conceptual and empirical aspects of the social exclusion/inclusion debate in later life, with a particular focus on issues of place and space in urban settings. Exploratory findings are reported from two empirical studies in Belgium and England, which sought to examine experiences of social exclusion and inclusion among people aged 60 and over living in deprived inner-city neighbourhoods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with an ethnically diverse sample of 102 older people in Belgium and 124 in England. Thematic analysis of interview data identifies four issues in relation to the neighbourhood dimension of social exclusion/inclusion in later life: experiences of community change; feelings of security and safety; the management of urban space; and strategies of control. The results suggest that neighbourhoods have a significant influence on shaping the experience of exclusion and inclusion in later life, with a number of similarities identified across the different study areas. The article concludes by discussing conceptual and policy issues raised by the research.

scholarly journals Age-Friendly Approaches and Old-Age Exclusion: A Cross-City Analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tine Buffel ◽  
Samuèle Rémillard-Boilard ◽  
Kieran Walsh ◽  
Bernard McDonald ◽  
An-Sofie Smetcoren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Document Analysis ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Research Gap

Developing ‘Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC)’ has become a key part of policies aimed at improving the quality of life of older people in urban areas. Despite this development, there is evidence of rising inequalities among urban elders, and little known about the potential and limitations of the age-friendly model to reduce old-age exclusion. This article addresses this research gap by comparing how Brussels, Dublin, and Manchester, as three members of the Global Network of AFCC, have responded to social exclusion in later life. The article combines data from document analysis and stakeholder interviews to examine: first, the age-friendly approach and the goal of reducing social exclusion; and second, barriers to developing age-friendly policies as a means of addressing exclusion. The paper suggests that there are reciprocal benefits in linking age-friendly and social exclusion agendas for producing new ways of combatting unequal experiences of ageing in cities.

scholarly journals The Intersection of Ageing and Social Exclusion

2021 ◽  
pp. 3-21
Author(s):  
Kieran Walsh ◽  
Thomas Scharf ◽  
Sofie Van Regenmortel ◽  
Anna Wanka
Keyword(s):  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Conceptual Knowledge ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Scientific Study ◽  
Critical Approach

AbstractThis chapter introduces the topic of social exclusion in later life and presents a rationale for this edited volume. It will provide an overview of existing knowledge, focusing specifically on research deficits and the implications of these deficits for scientific study in the area, and for effective and implemental policy development. This chapter will outline the aim and objectives of the book in response to these deficits and will outline the book’s structure and the critical approach that is adopted for the volume, and that is rooted in state-of-the-art conceptual knowledge.

scholarly journals There Is No Community Here: Living Alone, Place, and Older Peoples' Risk of Social Isolation

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 122-123
Author(s):  
Rachel Weldrick
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Diverse Range

Abstract Existing research has identified significant risk factors for experiencing social isolation in later life including chronic health conditions, mobility impairments, and living alone among others. Although many older people who live alone maintain active social lives, living alone remains a top predictor of social isolation. Less is known about other types of risk factors, such as place-based risks and social exclusion. Despite calls to examine the role of place and social exclusion in social isolation risk, few studies have investigated the links. Models of isolation risk have often omitted place-based factors and social exclusion and focused largely on individual-level risks. In order to address these gaps, this paper presents the findings of 17 in-depth, qualitative interviews with community-dwelling older people who live alone (aged 65-93). Participants were recruited using a theoretical sampling strategy to ensure that a diverse range of neighbourhood types were represented among the participants (e.g., walkable vs. car-dependent neighbourhoods). Interview transcripts were analyzed using a constructivist grounded approach resulting in several major themes. Participants described aspects of their local environments as shaping their risk of isolation including infrastructure and amenities delivered in place, and neighbourhood makeup, among others. These themes are further examined through the lens of place-based exclusion and used to conceptualize how dimensions of both place and social exclusion fit into the model of known isolation risk factors. An adapted model of risk is presented to guide future research and intervention planning.

Shaping the active, autonomous and responsible modern retiree: an analysis of discursive technologies and their links with neo-liberal political rationality

2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
DEBBIE LALIBERTE RUDMAN
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Older People ◽  
Later Life ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Political Rationality ◽  
Marketing Risk ◽  
Practices Of The Self ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Discursive Constructions

Retirement is undergoing structural and discursive transformations that have implications for the individual and social experience and management of later life. Although discourses about retirement do not determine how individuals will prepare for and act as ‘retirees’, they provide morally-laden messages that shape people's possibilities for being and acting. Using Canadian newspaper articles published in 1999 and 2000, and drawing upon the governmentality perspective, this study explores the interconnections between neo-liberal political rationality and discursive constructions of ‘retiree’ subjectivities. The analysis demonstrates the ways in which certain subjectivities, and their associated technologies and practices of the self that are consistent with neo-liberal political rationality, are being shaped as ideal for ‘retirees’. The paper critically examines this process and its implications, and argues that the personal ‘freedom’ promised with the idealised life practices is ultimately illusory, because they oblige older people to resist or defy ageing through relentless projects of self-reflection and improvement, self-marketing, risk management, lifestyle maximisation and body optimisation. The implications of the neo-liberal discourse about old age and ‘retirees’ for future social policies and older people's services are critically examined.

scholarly journals Exploring the importance of discretionary mobility in later life

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Musselwhite
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Travel Needs

Purpose Travel and mobility for older people has typically focussed on the practical benefits to the individual, for example, in meeting utilitarian needs of shopping, appointments and staying connected to family and friends. However, previous research has hinted that travel for its own sake, to get out and about and feel and experience mobility, may be just as important for older people and is especially missed when individuals give-up driving. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This paper examines travel for its own sake, usually referred to as discretionary travel, interviewing 20 older people in each of three different contexts: for drivers, for community transport users and for non-drivers who receive lifts from family and friends. Findings Older people not only enjoy discretionary travel, but also feel it is beneficial to their health and wellbeing. The car and especially driving, is seen as the best way to fulfil discretionary travel. Community transport users do fulfil discretionary travel needs but these are over formalised and lack spontaneity affecting feelings of control and identity. Receiving lifts from family and friends can often result in older people feeling a burden to the providers of the lifts especially when travel is viewed as discretionary. Practical implications More needs to be done to ensure discretionary travel needs are met for those without cars, highlighting the importance of such travel to community transport providers and helping reduce the feeling of being a burden to family and friends. Originality/value Policy, practice and research has tended to focus on transport as a means to an end. However, older people themselves value mobility just as much for its own sake and just to view nature. Such discretionary reasons for mobility are actually very important for health and wellbeing of older people and need more attention.

scholarly journals Reconceptualising Exclusion from Civic Engagement in Later Life: Towards a New Research Agenda

2021 ◽  
pp. 245-257
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Serrat ◽  
Thomas Scharf ◽  
Feliciano Villar
Keyword(s):  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Material Resources ◽  
Key Dimensions ◽  
New Research ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Research And Policy

AbstractSocial exclusion in later life remains a major challenge for ageing societies. Despite widespread acceptance of its multidimensional nature, research and policy debates have tended to focus on exclusion from material resources or social relations, overlooking other recognised dimensions of social exclusion. In this context, exclusion from civic engagement has been the least studied dimension. In this chapter, we argue that future research and policy initiatives should pay attention to four key dimensions of older people’s exclusion from civic engagement. First, we need to embrace the multidimensionality of the concept of civic engagement, which includes a range of qualitatively different activities. Second, it is essential to account for the diversity of the older population, since this shapes who is able to engage civically and in which ways. Third, attention should be paid to the dynamics and experiences of engagement across the life course, in order to understand better civic engagement trajectories. Fourth, we need to consider exclusion from civic engagement as a culturally-embedded process that is largely shaped by the particular socio-political context in which engagement occurs. We provide examples of recent research covering these dimensions of exclusion from civic engagement and conclude by proposing areas of further inquiry.

scholarly journals Later life in rental housing: current New Zealand issues

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally Keeling
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Older People ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Home Ownership ◽  
Rental Housing ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Development Work ◽  
Policy Issues ◽  
Local Research

Historically, New Zealand has had relatively high rates of home ownership, with widely held aspirations for mortgagefree tenure in later life. As a consequence, examination of the small but growing numbers of older renters has been limited (Nana et al., 2009, p.20). This article draws together local research, commissioned policy development work and comparative evidence to identify the characteristics of older people in rental accommodation, current and projected issues and potential policy issues.

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