Suffering: The darker side of ageing

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Medical Ethics
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Current ageing literature often focuses on combating negative stereotypes.
• Ageing studies struggle to address intrinsic suffering, focusing instead on extrinsic disadvantages.
• The subjective experiences of pain and distress associated with aging itself are frequently overlooked.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the concept of 'suffering' in later life.
• To acknowledge and document the place of suffering in the ageing process.
• To encourage a deeper engagement with the darker aspects of aging.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual analysis.
• Exploration of suffering from perspectives of moral philosophy, medicine, and social sciences.
• Discussion of witnessing suffering as a basis for ethics and community moral agency.

Main Results:

• Ageing studies often neglect the intrinsic suffering of aging, attributing distress to external factors.
• Suffering in later life is a complex phenomenon with philosophical, medical, and social dimensions.
• Acknowledging suffering is crucial for understanding the full experience of aging.

Conclusions:

• There is a need for ageing studies to confront and explore the intrinsic suffering associated with later life.
• Understanding suffering is essential for a comprehensive approach to gerontology and elder care.
• Ethical frameworks can be informed by bearing witness to the suffering of older adults.