“I do those things to pass the time.” : Active ageing during fourth age

Abstract

Active ageing is a dominant but disputed discourse in the field of ageing. Since it is usually associated with the third age, this article will focus on the active ageing of older adults who need care and services, who are known as the fourth agers. Our data consists of interviews collected from 16 older adults. We analysed the data through content analysis that was guided by the Active Ageing Index (AAI) that is a measuring tool concerning active ageing. According to our results, active ageing during the fourth age can be understood through the lens of small actions and precarity. Although some actions had to be given up or modified, participants were active in various ways, and help from other people and from services was essential. Based on our results, there is a need for further discussion about theorisation and defining active ageing for fourth agers.