Prisoners or liberators of space? The relationship between neighbourhood and community: a gerontological perspective

This paper offers a selective review of a broad range of literature examining the relationship between social networks and attachment to territory or place. Community attachment and belonging are studied as important dimensions in the process of becoming older. The relationship between elderly people and their neighbourhood as well as the meaning of local social networks are both examined from a theoretical perspective. We show that the dominant research approaches within the study of social networks of elderly people fit in with what is called the social support paradigm. In the discussion, we examine several shortcomings of such an approach and provide possible avenues for further research. We conclude that there are many possibilities linked to a new approach whereby elderly people are studied as liberators of space. From this perspective, the elderly are considered to be potential local community builders. By adopting this approach, the narrow view of elderly people as local prisoners of space becomes less critical.