Thomas Scharf Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, NUI Galway, Ireland ‘Active Ageing, steun of belemmering voor solidariteit tussen generaties?’ 9 February 2011, Den Haag Active Ageing: An appropriate policy response to the challenges of later life?

Outline Background Active Ageing: a prescription for a better old age? Active Ageing: a response to the challenges of later life? Towards alternative policy responses: addressing social exclusion in later life Conclusions

Background European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between the Generations 2012 as an opportunity: –For debate –To ask challenging questions –To remind ourselves of the value of the intergenerational contract that underpins our welfare systems –To engage in ‘passionate scholarship’

Background: solidarity between generations Re-emergence in some European societies of old debates on the generational contract (e.g. Willetts, 2010; Howker & Malik, 2010)

Background: orientation points Critical gerontology: “a more value-committed approach to social gerontology – a commitment not just to understand the social construction of ageing but to change it.” (Phillipson & Walker, 1987, p.12) Passionate scholarship: “We hold out this hope for those of us committed to critical gerontology … that we do whatever we do with passion and a belief that our scholarship can make a difference: that is move people to action.” (Holstein & Minkler, 2007, p.26)

Active Ageing: a prescription for a better older age? ‘Active ageing’, ‘successful ageing’, ‘productive ageing’, ‘ageing well’, ‘positive ageing’, ‘healthy ageing’, ‘optimal ageing’… –Unattainable goals for particular individuals and groups within an increasingly diverse older population –Individualisation of risks associated with ageing –Distraction from the real purpose of public policy interventions (i.e. to promote welfare/well-being of all people as they age)

Active Ageing: a response to the challenges of later life? Value in considering structures and processes that act to reduce well-being in later life ‘Social exclusion’ as an example of a key challenge facing many people in later life Responding well to the risks of exclusion in older age can lead to ageing policies and practices that are more appropriate for everyone as they age

Conceptualising social exclusion ‘Social exclusion is a multidimensional process of progressive social rupture, detaching groups and individuals from social relations and institutions and preventing them from full participation in the normal, normatively prescribed activities of the society in which they live.’ (Silver, 2007)

Fieldwork involving people aged 60 and over in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods of the most disadvantaged local authorities in England: –Group discussions (n=7) –Survey (n=600) –In-depth interviews (n=130) Ageing in disadvantaged neighbourhoods

Dimensions of exclusion in later life Material resources (e.g. poverty; multiple deprivation) Social relations (e.g. loneliness; isolation; non-participation in normatively proscribed relationships) Civic activities (e.g. non-participation in civic life) Basic services (e.g. lack of access; restricted use) Community/neighbourhood (e.g. lack of place attachment; negative perceptions of home and neighbourhood) (Scharf et al., 2005; Scharf & Keating, 2012)

High prevalence of forms of exclusion faced by older people, including: Poverty Isolation and loneliness Lack of access to key services Vulnerability to crime Negative impact on well-being in later life Close community ties and strong commitment to the neighbourhood (Scharf et al., 2002) Key findings

Drivers of exclusion in later life Structural drivers: ageism and age discrimination; changing norms and behaviours; social and economic policies; global trends etc. Environmental drivers: urbanisation trends; changing communities (rural/urban); age-segregated living etc. ‘Individual’ drivers: low socio-economic status earlier in life course; disrupted social (support) networks; transitions/life events; ill health and disability; migration patterns etc. (Phillipson & Scharf, 2004; Scharf et al., 2005; Scharf & Keating, 2012)

Responding to exclusion of ageing adults How should societies respond to exclusion of ageing adults? Structural: addressing societal values/behaviours towards older adults; guaranteeing access to a broad range of resources/supports; human-rights perspective Environmental: creating ageing-friendly environments; counteracting trends towards age-segregated living; engaging older adults in community planning Individual: preventative strategies earlier in life course; preventative strategies in later life; improved co-ordination of services/supports

Responding to exclusion of ageing adults How do societies respond to exclusion of ageing adults? RED – redistributive discourse: emphasises poverty as prime cause of exclusion MUD – moral underclass discourse: focuses on behaviour of the excluded rather than on structural causes of exclusion SID – social integrationist discourse: narrows definition of social exclusion/inclusion to participation in paid work ‘… in RED they have no money, in SID they have no work, in MUD they have no morals’ (Levitas 1998, p.27; Levitas, 2005)

Responding to exclusion of ageing adults RED: anti-poverty measures (minimum income measures; improved access to retirement income for women, migrants, informal carers; protecting acquired pension rights etc.) MUD: measures addressing behaviour of older people (healthy ageing; befriending; equity release; digital literacy; financial services etc.) SID: focus on employment before and beyond statutory retirement ages (e.g. Active Ageing; extending working life; raising retirement ages; limiting early retirement etc.)

Conclusions Active Ageing policy does not adequately respond to the major challenges facing ageing societies: inequality, diversity, frailty, neo-liberal world view etc. Exclusion lens a valuable way of exploring processes and structures that lead to advantage and disadvantage in later life Designing policies that better address the structural factors that reduce well-being in later life is a worthwhile policy goal Above all, we should be mindful of the need to maintain the generational contract when responding to policy challenges arising from demographic change

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