critical gerontology

Understanding the embodiment of aging in Brazil– the interplay of social, economic, and biological factors -remains a challenge for critical gerontologists.

The sociology of dementia has been a relatively neglected topic in studies of health and illness despite dementia becoming of increasing significance to most ‘ageing societies’.

In most developed nations, physical activity and sport participation are promoted ‘to all’, regardless of age, gender, race or circumstance.

Resilience in old age has many dimensions. Older people may experience difficulties and be vulnerable in one aspect of their lives, but have many resources and strengths in another.

On March 8th, 2017, the Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging, in collaboration with Trent University, brought together faculty, students (current and alumni), seniors, and community partners with an interest in social aspects of aging, to take part in an event focused on the “Futures of Aging”.

Over the past two decades, there has been a growing focus on how to support older adults to achieve so-called ‘positive’ aging.

Our culture has created a new dimension of ageism that equates hyper-cognitive abilities with successful aging. Even the Alzheimer Society of Canada advises to “keep your brain active every day” and “that a healthy brain can withstand illness better”; but how can we really know when our brains are ‘active’ or ‘healthy’, let alone keep them that way?

Historically, the idea of ‘generational conflict’ made its way into pop culture in the 1960s, posing a strong argument about the existence of a generational gap.

Can success, a term often associated with ageing, be negative? This question, rarely asked beyond critical and more humanistic age studies, may help to better understand the notions of success and the realities of growing older (Peterson and Martin, 2015).

Recent public attention has been drawn to sexualized interactions between older residents living in long-term care through highly publicised nursing home scandals. What is less known is that sexualized interactions also occur between workers and residents in long-term care.