Critical Questions for Ageing Societies

Gemma M. Carney is a critical gerontologist and Senior Lecturer in Social Policy and Ageing at Queen’s University Belfast.Paul Nash is a chartered psychologist and Associate Professor in the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California.Both authors won student-nominated teaching awards for their classes in gerontology and social policy in 2019.

• What is population ageing? (Demography)When am I officially past it? The ageist zeitgeist (Ageism and ageist stereotyping)Will I ever have enough money to retire? (Retirement, active ageing and working longer)Will I need care when I am old? (Care and support in later life)All old people are pretty much the same, aren’t they? (Diversity among the ageing population)Aren’t gender differences neutralised by age? (Gender)Why do older people have it so good? (The myth of intergenerational conflict)Why do older people vote, while younger people protest? (Politics of ageing)What does it mean to live a long life? (Cultural gerontology)What are my next steps? (Conclusions, reflections and actions)Now that you know about ageing … (Additional questions and revision)

"A refreshing approach to the study of the social aspects of ageing. It introduces critical questions which challenge stereotypes about ageing and blends theory, practice and policy. A must read for everyone interested in gerontology." Judith Phillips OBE, University of Stirling"