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Ageing activists: who gets involved in older people's forums?
- Authors:
- BARNES Marian, HARRISON Elizabeth, MURRAY Lesley
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 32(2), February 2012, pp.261-280.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Senior Citizens’ Forums have been established across East Sussex to provide a mechanism for dialogue between the County Council, the Primary Care Trusts, other public agencies, and older people. The aim of this article is to explore the characteristics and motivations of the members of these forums, specifically looking at: how they see themselves in relation to ‘other older people’; and their relationships with the places in which they live. The article draws upon pieces of research conducted with 2 forums. The first involved participatory research with forum members to explore issues prompting their participation and their experiences of this. The second comprised biographical interviews with forum members with reference to mobility and participation over their lifespan. The findings are discussed in relation to the characterisation of participants in such forums as the ‘usual suspects’ whose legitimacy to speak on behalf of others may be questioned, and by reference to a growing recognition of the significance of place in the lives of older people. Important differences in motivations, backgrounds and priorities of forum members are shown between the 2 forums. The research confirms that place-based participation tends to engage those who are fitter and who have more social and cultural capital, but questions assumptions that this means they are spaces for the pursuit of self-interest.
An ethic of care and sibling care in older age
- Author:
- BARNES Marian
- Journal article citation:
- Families, Relationships and Societies, 1(1), 2012, pp.7-23.
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
Current feminist care ethics emphasises the relational nature of care which suggests the importance of understanding the different dynamics of care in different relational contexts. This article applies such a perspective to a small number of interviews with carers looking after siblings in older age. While some attention has been given to sibling care following the death of parents of people with learning difficulties and, to a lesser extent, those with enduring mental health problems, older sibling care can take place when siblings become ill, or when they have had close contact over a lifetime. Personal descriptions suggested that motivations to care are strongly embedded in family responsibility, but the precise meaning and consequences of this vary. Such relationships may not be more egalitarian than other familial caring relationships, although it was noted that caregiving brought older siblings closer together.
Well-being in old age: findings from participatory research
- Authors:
- WARD Lizzie, BARNES Marian, GAHAGAN Beatrice
- Publisher:
- University of Brighton; Age Concern Brighton, Hove and Portslade
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 88p.
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
This project was designed to develop understanding of what well-being means to older people, and of how it is produced. A major aim of the project was to make a contribution to thinking about policy and practice and how this might enhance or detract from the way people experience well-being in old age. Eleven co-researchers, aged between 60 and 87, were recruited between 2008 and 2011. The co-researchers carried out one to one interviews with 30 older people and seven focus groups in which another 59 older people took part. Findings revealed that relationships were significant. Families could be a source of support and security, but for some can also involve difficult and painful relationships, distance and estrangement. Good relationships with adult children can contribute to well-being and maintaining satisfactory relationships was recognised as important. Health also featured as an important factor in well-being; chronic ill health had not only physical effects, but also emotional and psychological impacts. However, Being able to draw on experiences gained over a lifetime, learning from past mistakes, or reflecting on the benefit of hindsight, informed present attitudes and was a personal resource for some.
Older people, well-being and participation
- Authors:
- BARNES Marian, WARD Lizzie, GAHAGAN Beatrice
- Journal article citation:
- Generations Review, 22(2), April 2012, Online only
- Publisher:
- British Society of Gerontology
The University of Brighton and Age Concern, Brighton, Hove and Portslade have been working on participatory research with older people since 2007. Their latest project investigates the experiences of older people in relation to well-being. They have also received ESRC Follow on Funding to apply learning from this project, and from their experiences of working with older people as co-researchers, to develop learning resources for older people's involvement. This article briefly describes what the researchers have learnt from their research into well-being and how the findings will be applied.