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The Institutional Active Aging Paradigm in Europe (2002-2015)
Raúl López-López1, Mariano Sánchez1
1Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociología, University of Granada, Spain.
The Gerontologist
|July 13, 2019
Summary
Active aging policies are evolving, with the World Health Organization (WHO) focusing on social and health aspects, while the European Union (EU) and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) emphasize economic and labor contributions. This divergence risks oversimplifying active aging.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Policy
- Sociology
Background:
- The concept of active aging is increasingly adopted in Europe as a policy framework for an aging population.
- This study builds upon Rune Ervik's work on active aging conceptualizations and policies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To update conclusions on active aging conceptualizations and policies.
- To analyze institutional discourses on active aging from key international organizations.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of 15 documents from WHO, OECD, and EU published between 2002-2015.
- Content and thematic analysis using a mixed deductive and inductive coding approach.
Main Results:
- Institutional discourses on active aging show limited dramatic change.
- A divergence is observed: WHO's discourse emphasizes social/health productivity, while EU/OECD focus on economic/labor productivity.
- This creates separate paths in the construction of the active aging paradigm.
Conclusions:
- The institutional paradigm of active aging is becoming reductionist, failing to capture its multidimensional nature.
- International bodies and researchers must critically examine the real conditions and expectations of older adults regarding active aging proposals.
- A more holistic and honest approach is needed to address the diverse forms of active aging.
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