Elderly inclusion programs in Edinburgh

Abstract

Social exclusion of elderly populations is a well-known phenomenon in many countries across Europe (Kneale 2012; Masa, Anja, and Rakar,2013). When considered in relation to the aging population of the United Kingdom, this phenomenon presents a contemporary challenge for sociologists, in regards to detailing and understanding the means by which an elderly individual might fall out of society. This research explores the impact of social outreach programs, in terms how concerted efforts of social inclusion in and around Edinburgh have engaged with excluded elderly individuals and reshaped various aspects of their lives. This study interviewed six participants at the outreach charity, LifeCare, on how the program had impacted on a number of different aspects of their lives, focusing on five themes in particular: independence, family, widowhood, motivation and selfrepresentation. The results indicated that the program was influential in terms of re engaging the individuals, but also instilling a sense of belonging, role or purpose.