Understanding risk and old age in western society

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of “risk” in relation to old age. Ideas are explored linked with what has been termed as the “risk society” and the extent to which it has become part of the organizing ground of how we define and organise the “personal” and “social spaces” in which to grow old in western modernity.Design/methodology/approachA theoretical paper in three parts, including: an introduction to the relevance and breakdown in trust relations; a mapping out of the key assumptions of risk society; and examples drawn from social welfarism to consolidate an understanding of the contructedness of old age in late modernity.FindingsPart of this reflexive response to understanding risk and old age is the importance of recognising self‐subjective dimensions of emotions, trust, biographical knowledge and resources.Originality/valueThis discussion provides a critical narrative to the importance and interrelatedness of the sociology of risk to the study of old age.

Back to my old self and life restarting: Biographies of ageing in Beck’s risk society

“…However, relatively few studies have explicitly explored ageing through Beck's theoretical lenses. Chief among these are studies by Phillipson and Powell (2004), Fine (2005), Powell and Wahidin (2005), Powell et al (2007), Higgs et al (2009), Rees Jones and Higgs (2010), Powell and Taylor (2016), and Taylor-Gooby et al (1999), which position the contemporary welfare state as a response to risks across the life course. Others have argued that there is a lack of conceptual clarity in much of Beck's work and that his theories are often used as an 'afterthought' in research, to interpret and explain the findings rather than as an organising principle for analysis (Brannen and Nilsen, 2005).…”

Relational care and co-operative endeavour – Reshaping dementia care through participatory secondary data analysis

“…Hutcheon and Lashewicz (2014) highlight the need to move away from a focus on ability to more relationship focused approaches – this being a critical shift from arguments that older people are diminished by a society that values productivity and self-management (Hicks & Conner, 2014; Powell, Wahidin, & Zinn, 2007). It also reminds us of Lupton’s (2013) argument that the experiences of an individual are fundamentally shaped by the relationship between individuals, institutions and society, and is critical to the theoretical premise of the analysis reported here.…”

Editorial: risk and long‐term conditions – society, services and resilience

“…Crucially, we need to consider where the responsibility for the management of risk rests – who assumes or relinquishes responsibility for the balance of protecting safety and promoting autonomy. Powell et al. (2007) identify how risk theory enables an understanding of how (older) people are rendered ‘subjects’ of society: ‘risk is the intended outcome of a range of social practices whose aim is the management of a population that is useful, productive and self‐managing’ (Powell et al.…”

“…Powell et al. (2007) identify how risk theory enables an understanding of how (older) people are rendered ‘subjects’ of society: ‘risk is the intended outcome of a range of social practices whose aim is the management of a population that is useful, productive and self‐managing’ (Powell et al. 2007 p.73).…”

“…Crucially, we need to consider where the responsibility for the management of risk rests -who assumes or relinquishes responsibility for the balance of protecting safety and promoting autonomy. Powell et al (2007) identify how risk theory enables an understanding of how (older) people are rendered 'subjects' of society: 'risk is the intended outcome of a range of social practices whose aim is the management of a population that is useful, productive and self-managing' (Powell et al 2007 p.73). Thus, notions of voluntariness in the acquisition or relinquishing of responsibility for safety and autonomy are key to understanding the dynamics of relationships between someone with a long-term condition, their family and service providers.…”