9 TWO environmental gerontology [T]he right to a decent environment is an inalienable right and requires no empirical justification. (Lawton, 1980, p 160) introduction Society has reached a historical period in the demographic profile of the population, bringing into focus a need to prepare nations to support ageing and older people. Although Lawton (1980) stated that a decent environment is a right requiring no empirical justification (see quote above), social policy and social change needs to be driven by a better understanding of what constitutes a
Introduction Drawing on our analyses of archival materials, conference documentation and publications, this chapter discusses the evolution of British gerontology as reflected through the research presented at the annual conferences of the British Society of Gerontology (BSG) between 1971 and 2018. The society’s annual conferences have, over nearly 50 years, showcased a diverse and extensive corpus of UK and international research, as well as contributions from policy makers and practitioners. Marshalling nearly five decades of conference materials into a
Introduction This final chapter summarises and reflects further on the issues raised throughout the book. In so doing, our intention is to provide a basis for continued conversation and dialogue among and between all manner of gerontologists; between gerontologists, older people, practitioners and policy makers; and between gerontology and the many disciplines, organisations and groups that are now taking an interest in ageing and later life. We begin by reappraising what has been learnt from the analyses of the extensive archival and interview material
Introduction Following the introduction to the project and the participants in Part I, this chapter continues the sociohistorical exploration of the evolution of British gerontology begun in Chapter 1 . We consider first the political and policy environment out of which gerontology arose and show how it developed across the 20th century and into the current millennium. Paralleling and underlying these developments has been the rapid growth of national and international research and knowledge about ageing and old age. Second, using testimony from the
PART I The ageing of British gerontology
PART III Lives and careers in gerontology
Half a century of UK gerontology research, theory, policy and practice are under the spotlight in this landmark critical review of the subject that places the country’s achievements in an international context.
Drawing on the archives of the British Society of Gerontology and interviews with dozens of the most influential figures in the field, it provides a comprehensive picture of key developments and issues and looks to the future to plot new directions in thinking. This is the story of the remarkable progress of gerontology, told through the eyes of those who have led it.
This original collection explores how critical gerontology can make sense of old age inequalities to inform and improve social work research, policy and practice and empower older people.
With examples of practice-facing research, this book engages with key debates on age-related human rights and social justice issues. The critical and conceptual focus will expand the horizons of those who work with older people, addressing the current challenges, issues and opportunities that they face.
9 TWO Theorising time and space in social gerontology The themes of time and space occupy a central place within social gerontology (Baars 2015), however, these are generally implicit and often poorly theorised by researchers and writers in the field. Yet the ways in which we understand time, space and the interconnections between them impact on the ways we frame ageing and later life. As conceptions of time and space change so too do our theories of ageing. As a result, it is important to critically assess the time-spaces employed in social gerontology
