| |
Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
 | |
|
| Community-based research and approaches to loneliness prevention | | Author(s) | Jenny Barke |
| Journal title | Working with Older People, vol 21, no 2, 2017 |
| Publisher | Emerald, 2017 |
| Pages | pp 115-123 |
| Source | www.emeraldinsight.com/loi/wwop |
| Keywords | Loneliness ; Attitude ; Development projects ; Qualitative Studies ; Bristol. |
| Annotation | The author reports on research with older people that explored experiences of loneliness, in order to consider community level approaches to prevent and reduce feelings of loneliness. The research was co-produced with a community research group of community professionals, academics and local older people working together, and involved a series of in-depth interviews (n=14) with older people. Interviews were thematically analysed, and revealed three key themes: connecting and disconnecting; points of vulnerability; and older identity. Social connections were important to participants: many felt disconnected at times. Findings underline the importance of understanding older people's social perceptions, and how individuals themselves conceptualise older age. Further research is needed to explore the value of social media in reducing feelings of loneliness generally. With regards to social implications, the author suggests that older people need to be more visible and loneliness needs to be normalised and discussed without stigmatisation. In practical terms, as people get older, and particularly as they retire, people need opportunities to engage or re-engage with their local community. The author suggests that preventing loneliness may mean finding supportive structures to enable this, such as local community-based retirement classes. It is important to note that this research concentrated on one particular community in Bristol, and needs to be replicated to further explore findings. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-170609213 A |
| Classmark | DV: DP: IGD: 3DP: 8AB |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
|
| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
| |
|