Abstract
The participants are introduced here, and their perspectives on both the importance of, and also access to, opportunities for reciprocity described. Drawing on the phenomenologically significant concepts already identified as the basis of an analytical framework, I present the nineteen themes which I consider to have emerged from the interview data. Some themes can be seen to arise from a focus on particular issues such as existential crisis, the relationship between social and geographical space and the significance of intergenerationality. In addition, overarching and uniting themes are also evident. Chief among these, I suggest, is that, while the majority of both the Indian and UK elders who participated in the study perceived reciprocity as being crucial to the maintenance of their self-esteem, almost all of them also perceived this spiritual need as being compromised by a lack of understanding of the significance of reciprocity to them and their sense of personhood.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Becker, C. S. (1992). Living and relating: An introduction to phenomenology. London: Sage.
Bond, J., & Cabrero, G. R. (2007). Health and dependency in later life. In J. Bond et al. (Eds.), Ageing in society: European perspectives on gerontology. London: Sage Publications.
Bond, J., Peace, S., Dittman-Kohli, F., & Westerhof, G. (Eds.), (2007). Ageing in society: European perspectives on gerontology (3rd ed.). London: Sage.
Bytheway, B., Bacigalupo, V., Bornat, J., Johnson, J., & Spurr, S. (Eds.), (2002). Understanding care, welfare and community. London: Routledge.
Chadha, N. K. (2003). What motivates intergenerational practices in India? Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 1(1), 177–178.
Grenier, A., & Hanley, J. (2007). Older women and “frailty”: Aged, gendered and embodied resistance. Current Sociology, 55, 211–228.
Harrington Meyer, M. (2000). Care work: Gender, class and the welfare state. London: Routledge.
Hatton-Yeo, A. (Ed.), (2006). Intergenerational programmes: An introduction and examples of practice. Stoke-on-Trent: Beth Johnson Foundation.
Hickey, G., & Kipping, C. (1998). Exploring the concept of user involvement in mental health through a participation continuum. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 7, 83–88.
Hudson, J. (2002). Community care in the information age. In Bytheway et al. (Ed.), Understanding care, welfare and community: A reader. London: Routledge.
Jacobs, S. (2010). Hinduism today. London: Continuum.
Knight, T., & Mellor, D. (2007). Social inclusion of older adults in care: Is it just a question of providing activities? International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Health and Well-being, 2(2), 74–85.
Nay, R. (1998). Contradictions between perceptions and practices of caring in long-term care of elderly people. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 7, 401–408.
Pascal, J. (2006). The lived experience of cancer survivors: Heideggerian perspectives. PhD thesis, LaTrobe University, Bendigo.
Saleeby, D. (2008). The strengths perspective in social work practice (5th ed.). Rugby: Pearson Education.
Thompson, N. (2000). Theory and practice in human services. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Ungerson, C. (2000). ‘Cash in care’. In Harrington Meyer (Ed.), Care work: Gender, class and the welfare state. London: Routledge.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Thompson, S. (2013). Findings. In: Reciprocity and Dependency in Old Age. International Perspectives on Aging, vol 8. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6687-1_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6687-1_5
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6686-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6687-1
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)