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Community Loneliness: A Critical Gerontological Perspective of Loneliness in Later Life
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DOI：10.1155/hsc/6698848.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
In social gerontology, the 'loneliness epidemic' discourse has been dominated by two competing narratives: one a hyperfixation on the health consequences of loneliness in older age and the other seeking to challenge the notion of its prevalence in later life, prioritising youth loneliness in its place. Lost between these positions is a nuanced engagement with the complexity of loneliness in later life and a willingness to examine how it is lived, observed and negotiated in collaboration with older people themselves. This article addresses that gap by positioning the day centre as a lens through which the complexities of loneliness in older age can be explored. Day centres provide a distinctive site in which the relational, structural and political dynamics of later life are concentrated and made visible, revealing how loneliness is actively navigated through social practices and negotiations of identity. Drawing on insights from a Participatory Action Research (PAR) study, the article introduces 'community loneliness' to highlight the importance of situating loneliness within the everyday worlds of older adults, including the rhythms of daily life, the fragile but sustaining ties of community and the often-overlooked negotiations of loss, conflict and connection. In doing so, this article considers the ethical responsibilities of loneliness researchers and calls for a more actively antiageist understanding of loneliness in later life, opening pathways for more responsive, inclusive and justice-oriented approaches to practice and policy.
Keywords:
ageing
critical gerontology
loneliness
participatory action research
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