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Background and objectives:
Gendered ageism refers to the intersectionality of age and gender bias and discrimination. It is widely prevalent and leads to inequality, injustice, oppression, exploitation and disempowerment of older women. In this study, we explore the impacts of gendered ageism on three areas of older women’s lives in three African countries. These areas are: (1) participation in public and political life and access to justice and law enforcement; (2) family relations, inheritance, and land and property ownership; and (3) violence, abuse and neglect.
Research design and methods:
Eighteen women aged 54–85 years were interviewed for this study. Thematic analysis was undertaken to identify and explore disempowering impacts of gendered ageism on their lives and rights.
Results:
In all areas of the participants’ lives, their lack of voice in their inability to make choices, to claim their rights and to participate meaningfully in decision-making were highlighted. These manifested in the suppression of their interests, opinions and aspirations in public life; denial of justice; prejudice and discrimination within family settings; exploitation, harassment, abandonment and violence; and an overall devaluation, dehumanisation and silencing of older women.
Discussion:
Women often outlive men and experience marginalisation for a greater proportion of their lives. Yet, their lived experiences receive limited acknowledgement and redressal. In developing countries, older women face multiple forms of oppression arising from gendered ageism. This study highlights such experiences with the expectation that this will generate awareness, garner support from stakeholders and help inform policies for the protection and equal treatment of older women.
Introduction
A person’s ability to live independently may be limited by physical and cognitive declines associated with ageing, including disabilities that affect mobility and self-care. This study examines the delays to accessing healthcare facilities among older adults who are frail or have disabilities, using the three-delays model.
Methods
A qualitative study was conducted during March and April 2022 among 21 older adults (aged 60 or above) who were frail or disabled (using assistive devices) in Bengaluru and nine key informants, consisting of geriatricians, physiotherapists, psychologists and NGO workers. Data were analysed using NVivo 12.
Results
Delays in accessing healthcare for older adults were attributed to multidimensional factors related to the individual (disability; lack of trust in healthcare workers; low/no income), the community and household (neglect/lack of awareness by the family; limited, inaccessible and unaffordable transport modes) and the health system (poor staffing; under-supplied healthcare facilities; waiting times at the hospital). Delays led to complications, hospitalisations and financial burdens for the older adults. The key informant interviews supported these findings.
Conclusion
This research highlights that it is important to overcome delays in accessing healthcare for older adults to ensure better health and wellbeing among this group. A holistic approach is needed to reach out to individuals, communities and households, and the healthcare system. Providing adequate transport services to hospitals should be planned in conjunction with the health department for timely delivery of care. Providing health insurance for older adults and improving geriatric care would be highly beneficial to improving health outcomes.
This article presents what we regard as the primary topics of concern for a feminist policy on ageing (including care and caring), derived from the results of a collaborative study undertaken in the Basque Country. The data were gathered through meetings with eight equality specialists from Women’s Houses in the region and interviews with a total of 42 older women. Our analysis shows that one of the biggest challenges is identifying strategies for articulating these topics, making them more visible and increasing societal awareness. To that end, it is necessary to analyse the intersections between age and gender.
This article compares community services provided to older adults living in Bergen, Norway, and Toronto, Canada. We investigate the gaps that are left unattended in the respective jurisdictions and consequently maintained by the organizations. Our findings reveal the importance of community organizations in positively influencing the initial transition from independence to needing more supports. Our findings show differences between the jurisdictions in the experiences of care gaps for diverse groups of providers and clients, while the overall importance of community organizations for older adults is shared in both jurisdictions, particularly by filling gaps between the formal and informal care systems.
To examine helping professionals’ attitudes toward older adults is of critical importance in improving the quality of gerontological care and promoting a longevity society. The objective of the present study was to examine the current state of knowledge regarding helping professionals’ attitudes toward older people. This has been done through a review of recent systematic reviews. We used ten databases to search for systematic reviews published on peer-reviewed platforms from 2000 to September 2023. Initially, 730 articles were retrieved, of which 14 were found to be eligible for inclusion. Current evidence primarily focuses on three aspects of helping professionals’ attitudes toward older adults: (1) cognitive, affective and behavioural manifestations of ageist attitudes; (2) professional/educational and non-professional/non-educational factors that influence these attitudes; and (3) education-based and experience-based interventions targeting these attitudes. While it is difficult to synthesise the level of positivity or negativity in helping professionals’ attitudes, we found evidence of stereotypes of older people as incompetent and difficult, and passive emotions and behaviours when providing care. Gerontological knowledge, professional values and exposure to older adults are critical factors shaping helping professionals’ attitudes. Interventions based on positive gerontological education and improving intergenerational relationships have shown promising benefits. Our review identifies notable research gaps in current literature, namely the under-representation of non-Western regions and the lack of valid and culturally sensitive instruments for ageism-related concepts. It provides valuable insights for future research, practice and policy on ageism to improve the quality of gerontological care.
How are problems of family/friend care framed and politicized, and with what socio-political implications? This feminist rhetorical analysis examines how carers are positioned, how problems and solutions of care are framed, and how carers’ social and political rights are supported by Canadian caregiver organizations. Organizations’ public materials draw on and expand narratives that foreground individual risk and recognition, decentring the state’s role. We elaborate on how carers’ citizenship rights are discursively bounded with proposed individualized solutions that support them in continuing to care. Broader narratives could consider carers’ human or citizenship rights or otherwise foreground relationality and complex collective care solidarities.
Engaging healthcare users and families in health research studies as partners – rather than as ‘research subjects’ in the traditional sense – is a growing trend in healthcare. This article is based on interviews with mothers of children with disabilities who partner in research studies on behalf of their children. For these mothers, participating in research is an identity-building activity that (1) builds on and validates their caregiving roles and (2) introduces new personal and professional possibilities for the future.
Capacity-building in the field of older people’s care and support, followed by empowerment through social innovation, seeks to use older people’s own skills and abilities that have not previously been considered and aims to create jobs while improving the morale and quality of life of older people. The present study uses participatory action research to analyse a social innovation cycle of job creation for older people living in neighbourhoods in Tehran as a sustainable approach. Participatory action research was used to enable people to participate directly in the research process. The results show that using a capacity-building approach in supporting older people using social innovation leads to: (1) job creation; (2) increased social interactions and communication among older people; (3) fewer negative effects of ageing, including psychological and physical effects; and (4) more active participation in society. In addition, challenges and stimuli for capacity-building are identified.
The places where people live, work and spend leisure time are essential to their health and wellbeing. However, with climate change, these environments are changing. It is paramount that we understand older and younger people’s climate change perspectives, behaviours and visions for the future so that the places that matter to them can be shaped and managed effectively for health, wellbeing and sustainability.
This article presents the case for using comic books to explore climate change with diverse intergenerational groups. The bilingual (Welsh/English) Climate Comic was created in South Wales, UK, as part of the ‘Understanding Older and Younger People’s PerspecTives and Imaginaries of Climate Change’ (OPTIC) project. From February to May 2023, 65 older and younger people took part in structured workshops where we used creative methods (games, collaging, comic creation, mobile and online interviews, storyboarding) to elicit intergenerational conversation, articulate intangible values and explore change. Workshops were audio-recorded, and stories were developed into a comic by illustrator Laura Sorvala. We also used comics as part of wider engagement and to stimulate ideas in a design sprint with interested groups.
We discuss why comics are suited to exploring climate change with older and younger people, and the process we used to create the Climate Comic. We then reflect on the affordances and limitations of our approach and make recommendations for future research in this area. We hope that this work will stimulate others to consider using this adaptable and engaging art form for further research and engagement with younger and older people.
