Old Age and Caring Democracy

Abstract

Old age is an identity that many resists. It contributes to a sense of invisibility and, for some, it leaves them out of both time and place in the world. This chapter reviews examples of older people’s participation from England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Australia and Ireland. As well as ‘ageing activism’ within seniors’ forums and interest organisations, it explores participation in contexts not often regarded as ‘political’, such as within residential homes and in research projects. Such contexts can reflect the most immediate points of contact between older people and state services and policies that impact their lives. They can be a focus for transforming practices and ways in which public officials and service providers think about old age and old people. It is argued that ‘deliberating with care’ with older people not only offers transformative potential in relation to specific services and policies than can benefit us all as we grow older, but it can also counteract damaging inter-generational conflict, and enhance wellbeing and social justice.