Theorising the relationship between older people and their immediate social living environment

Tine Buffel; Dominique Verté; Liesbeth de Donder; Nico de Witte; Sarah Dury; Tom Vanwing; Anouk Bolsenbroek

doi:10.1080/02601370.2012.636577

Theorising the relationship between older people and their immediate social living environment

Tine Buffel, Dominique Verté, Liesbeth de Donder, Nico de Witte, Sarah Dury, Tom Vanwing, Anouk Bolsenbroek

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

97 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article presents a theoretical framework for exploring the dynamics between older people and their immediate social living environment. After introducing a gerontological perspective that goes beyond microfication, a literature review presents findings from studies that have explored the role of place and locality for older people. Next, this contribution seeks to broaden the conceptual field by introducing key dimensions of the relationship between older people and their social environment. A critical investigation of underlying assumptions and constructions of older people within certain research traditions that address the social environment is presented. In conclusion, the role of the social environment is underlined as a dynamic, multi-dimensional, historically and spatially contextualized process that both shapes and is shaped by the experiences and practices of older people.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	13-32
Number of pages	20
Journal	International Journal of Lifelong Education
Volume	31
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/02601370.2012.636577
Publication status	Published - Feb 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Tine Buffel is currently writing a PhD on older people’s relationship with the local social environment, using critical and environmental perspectives on ageing. She is funded by the Fund for Scientific Research (FWO, Flanders, Belgium). Correspondence: Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Dominique Verté, PhD in gerontology, is professor at the Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. He is the founding director of the Belgian Ageing Studies Project. His research interests have focused on political, social and cultural participation in old age, social exclusion, and issues relating to vulnerability and elder abuse. Correspondence: Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Liesbeth De Donder finalised her PhD in 2010 on feelings of unsafety in later life. She has also been involved in several European research projects concerning elder abuse, active ageing and quality of long-term care. Correspondence: Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Nico De Witte is currently affiliated as a lecturer at the University College Ghent, Faculty of Health Sciences and as a teaching assistant at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Educational Sciences. His main research interests are: vulnerability among the community dwelling elderly, and quality of life. Correspondence: University College Ghent, Faculty of Health Sciences and Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Sarah Dury is currently writing a PhD on volunteering among older people. Her dissertation seeks to contribute to conceptual framework that includes multidimensional factors that impact upon the decision of older adults whether to volunteer or not. Correspondence: Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Tom Vanwing is professor at the Department of Adult Educational Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His research interests are in the broad field of adult education and sustainable development. Correspondence: Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Anouk Bolsenbroek is an independent researcher, lecturer and trainer. Community building, inclusion and meaning of life are her fields of interest. Email: [email protected]

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title = "Theorising the relationship between older people and their immediate social living environment",

abstract = "This article presents a theoretical framework for exploring the dynamics between older people and their immediate social living environment. After introducing a gerontological perspective that goes beyond microfication, a literature review presents findings from studies that have explored the role of place and locality for older people. Next, this contribution seeks to broaden the conceptual field by introducing key dimensions of the relationship between older people and their social environment. A critical investigation of underlying assumptions and constructions of older people within certain research traditions that address the social environment is presented. In conclusion, the role of the social environment is underlined as a dynamic, multi-dimensional, historically and spatially contextualized process that both shapes and is shaped by the experiences and practices of older people.",

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note = "Funding Information: Tine Buffel is currently writing a PhD on older people{\textquoteright}s relationship with the local social environment, using critical and environmental perspectives on ageing. She is funded by the Fund for Scientific Research (FWO, Flanders, Belgium). Correspondence: Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Dominique Vert{\'e}, PhD in gerontology, is professor at the Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. He is the founding director of the Belgian Ageing Studies Project. His research interests have focused on political, social and cultural participation in old age, social exclusion, and issues relating to vulnerability and elder abuse. Correspondence: Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Liesbeth De Donder finalised her PhD in 2010 on feelings of unsafety in later life. She has also been involved in several European research projects concerning elder abuse, active ageing and quality of long-term care. Correspondence: Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Nico De Witte is currently affiliated as a lecturer at the University College Ghent, Faculty of Health Sciences and as a teaching assistant at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Educational Sciences. His main research interests are: vulnerability among the community dwelling elderly, and quality of life. Correspondence: University College Ghent, Faculty of Health Sciences and Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Sarah Dury is currently writing a PhD on volunteering among older people. Her dissertation seeks to contribute to conceptual framework that includes multidimensional factors that impact upon the decision of older adults whether to volunteer or not. Correspondence: Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Tom Vanwing is professor at the Department of Adult Educational Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His research interests are in the broad field of adult education and sustainable development. Correspondence: Department of Adult Educational Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Anouk Bolsenbroek is an independent researcher, lecturer and trainer. Community building, inclusion and meaning of life are her fields of interest. Email: [email protected]",

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AU - Vanwing, Tom

AU - Bolsenbroek, Anouk

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Theorising the relationship between older people and their immediate social living environment

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