What is positive ageing? An exploration of the views of the participants of the Westgate Foundation

McManamon, Orla

What is positive ageing? An exploration of the views of the participants of the Westgate Foundation

Files

OrlaMcManamonCARLreport2017WestgateFoundation.pdf(939.47 KB)

Published Version

Date

2017-05

Authors

McManamon, Orla

Publisher

Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork

Abstract

Population ageing has become a global phenomenon in recent decades. Fertility rates are decreasing and people are living for longer than ever before. In response to this, there has been a shift in thinking to promote healthier outcomes for those in later life. As a result, ideologies around healthy ageing have evolved. Terms such as ‘successful ageing’, ‘active ageing’ and ‘positive ageing’ are now part of the discourse with regards to growing older. Although these terms were conceived as early as the 1980s, they may still be considered as relatively new in Ireland with the first Irish National Positive Ageing Strategy published in 2013. The Westgate Foundation is a community based organisation working with people aged over 60 years. Through collaboration with the CARL team and UCC, a group of participants from the Westgate foundation formed the idea of asking the question ‘What is Positive Ageing?’. As a fourth year Bachelor of Social Work student I found the question interesting and decided to join the collaboration as part of my final year action research study. This action research study explores the concept of positive ageing. It does this largely as a participatory study, taking into account the views of participants of the Westgate Foundation. I also examine existing and relevant literature and policies on healthy ageing. The research findings depict positive outcomes for those who are actively involved socially and have positive attitudes to life in general. The correlation between the academic research and the participatory research showed similar findings on what it is to age positively while identifying the challenges faced relating to positive ageing.

Keywords

Positive ageing , Fertility rates , Healthy ageing , Successful ageing , Active ageing , Irish National Positive Ageing Strategy , The Westgate Foundation , Positive attitude to life

Citation

McManamon, O. (2017) What is positive ageing? An exploration of the views of the participants of the Westgate Foundation. Cork: Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork.