Key Concepts in Social Gerontology

“Far from a dictionary, the concepts are portrayed as complex, and conflicting definitions and usages are both noted and evaluated… Each article includes a (necessarily selective) set of references, and cross-references to other concepts included in the book… Moreover, the coverage and evaluation of the concepts is right at the current leading edge in a rapidly moving field.”

- Victor Marshall, Department of Sociology and Institute on Aging, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

“The concepts are very clear and very relevant, and fantastic for my group of undergraduate students… I found each concept to be succinctly and simply captured, holding enough information to satisfy initial cravings and complex enough to tempt further reading… I had originally thought that this book would provide supplementary reading as part of my ‘Healthy Ageing’ course, but have changed my mind to essential reading now I have had the opportunity to read the entire book.”

- Dr Meredith Tavener, Groningen University

Social gerontology is a new and dynamic field reflecting the increasing interest in ageing across the world. This book provides a readily accessible guide to well established and contested issues, as well as new concepts emerging through cutting edge research in the discipline.

The entries give concise, lucid knowledge on what constitutes the ‘building blocks’ of social gerontology and sets out a clear review of the core concepts, both classic and emerging, in this subject area.
Each concept is explored in terms of its history, application, usefulness to theory and research, and significance in practice. They go beyond simple definitions of the concepts to look at how each issue has shaped the discipline of social gerontology today.

This book is authored by social gerontologists from the UK and the USA. Together they present an interdisciplinary perspective and reflect a global approach to the presentation of key concepts in social gerontology.

Author Biography

Judith Phillips is Professor of Gerontology at Swansea University and director of the Older People and Ageing Research and Development Network in Wales (OPAN Cymru). Judith is a qualified social worker and has worked in statutory residential and field settings, specialising in work with older adults. Following a geography degree at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Judith went on to study at Stockholm University, Jesus College Oxford and UEA, Norwich, where she worked as a researcher and a lecturer before joining the Centre for Social Gerontology at the University of Keele in 1993. She returned to Wales in 2004 to set up the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Ageing (now the Centre for Innovative Ageing) at Swansea University. She is also currently the Director of the Research Institute for Applied Social Sciences at Swansea University. Dr. Ajrouch is an Adjunct Associate Research Professor in the Life Course Development Program. Her research interests include matters of social relations and aging, with emphasis on gender, race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. She recently completed a study, funded by the National Institute of Aging, which examined issues of social relations and health among Arab American elders. Dr Sarah Hillcoat-Nalletamby is Professor of Public Health and Policy Studies at Swansea University.