Looking back and moving forward : a biographical approach to ageing.

In contrast to much gerontological research, which provides only a glimpse of the
lived experiences of later life, this study investigated the views, practices and
circumstances of older people using a biographical approach.
Men and women presented a variety of meanings concerning later life and their
stories both reflected and resisted some of the commonly held and socially
constructed views about later life. All said that they did not feel old, although
participants described times in their lives when they did feel old: when they were ill,
made redundant or bereaved. Growing older was linked to illness, decline and
burden even when this contradicted, as it often did, participants' substantive
experiences. Although there are problems and challenges that accompany later life,
they are not necessarily overwhelming. Later life was generally portrayed as an
active period, in which participants continued to live their lives in an engaged way;
helping others, striving for independence, celebrating older age and enjoying its
freedoms.
People's attitudes and experiences of later life were seen also to be a reflection of
their lifetime roles, for example, whether or not they had been active in helping
others or had socialised with others in the past. Capabilities and needs were not fixed
but changed, according to individual experiences and attitudes, as well as
requirements in the face of ill health or financial problems; needs which varied at
different times and at different points of the life course.
It is argued that the views and experiences of older people should be used as a basis
for shaping theory, practice and research.