Women's Health Medicine
Volume 3, Issue 2 , Pages 78-80, March 2006

Social aspects of ageing

  • Lynne Corner, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Lynne Corner PhD is a Research Associate at the Centre for Health Services Research and Institute for the Ageing and Health, University of Newcastle, UK. She specializes in researching the psychosocial and economic aspects of dementia and assessing quality of life.
    • ,
  • Katie Brittain, MA

      Affiliations

    • Katie Brittain MA is a Lecturer in Social Gerontology at the Centre for Health Services Research, University of Newcastle, UK. Her research interests include the social impact of stroke and incontinence on older people and on informal carers.
    • ,
  • John Bond, BA(Hons)

      Affiliations

    • John Bond BA(Hons) is Professor of Social Gerontology and Health Services Research at the University of Newcastle, UK. He is Director of the Centre for Health Services Research and a member of the Institute for Ageing and Health. He specializes in researching the psychosocial and economic aspects of dementia and contributing to clinical trials of interventions for older people.

Abstract 

This paper examines the social aspects of ageing in contemporary society. It emphasises: the quality of life in older people, ageing and health, two case studies on the experiences of older people, social exclusion, perceptions of risk and insight and overcoming stigma. Despite the democratic revolution in which human lifespans are increasing steadily worldwide – mainly as a result of improvements in living conditions, sanitation and healthcare – it is the case that age stratification and discrimination are widespread and in most Western cultures older people are marginalized and socially excluded on the basis of age. It concludes that this hegemony of institutionalized ageism and the negative cultural representation of older people remain major barriers to greater social inclusion for all older citizens.

Keywords:  mental health , ageing , quality of life , ageism , age stigmatization

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PII: S1744-1870(06)00137-5

doi:10.1383/wohm.2006.3.2.78

Women's Health Medicine
Volume 3, Issue 2 , Pages 78-80, March 2006

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