Rural ageing and transportation

Dispersed stakeholders could use the Internet to discuss issues of concern in rural ageing but the best methods for long-term online focus groups were unclear. We explored use of webcasts, discussion forums, Twitter, and email to facilitate inter-regional inter-sectoral stakeholder discussion. Synchronicity and scheduling seemed important to get professionals and older people to engage in discussion but unfamiliar technology such as webcasts and Twitter introduced barriers. A time-limited email listserve discussion provided sufficient synchronicity while preserving the convenience of familiar technology, and was the best method of engaging geographically dispersed older users in discussions with academics and support organisations.

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CRITICAL SOCIAL GERONTOLOGY AND RURAL AGING

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1474 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S398-S398

Author(s):

Vanessa Burholt ◽

thomas Scharf

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Community Resources ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Critical Gerontology ◽

Rural Aging ◽

Development Policies ◽

Key Issues ◽

Cultural Visibility ◽

Rural Ageing

Abstract This paper examines the extent to which critical gerontology has raised awareness of the heterogeneity of rural ageing in High Income Countries (HICs) and compare this to our knowledge of the issues that are associated with rural ageing in Low to Middle Income Countries (LMICS). We will draw on Nancy Fraser’s social justice framework to summarize key issues around: (1) Demography (such as globalization, urbanization, counter-urbanization and rural population ageing); (2) Resources (individual material and social resources; community resources such as access to services); (3) Recognition (social status, cultural visibility through social participation and cultural worth through valued social roles); (4) Representation (in social, health and rural development policies; and in private sector and NGO approaches). We argue that an intersectional approach that takes into account location and context (structural/economic/political) alongside other dimensions of oppression and/or privilege can provide a better understanding of the experience of ageing in rural areas.

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