[Socially oriented daily life in very old age--design of a qualitative study within the European Project ENABLE-AGE]

Social participation is an important indicator for quality of life and seems to decrease in very old age. However, gerontological research on social participation in very old aged is based on fuzzy ad hoc definitions that do not differentiate between the third and the fourth age. The starting point of the planned qualitative study within the EU project ENABLE-AGE is the assumed need for a specific conceptualization of social participation in very old age. To achieve this, semi-structured interviews (n=40) are conducted with very old persons in single households and analyzed according to the Grounded Theory approach. This methodology allows both systematic consideration of relevant sociological concepts on social participation in old age in the form of so-called "sensitizing concepts" and quantitative findings. This study will contribute to a valid conceptualization of social participation in very old age and theory-empiricism-integration in sociology on old age. In addition, the societal potential of enhancing social participation in very old age will be explored.