The Role of Community and the Environment in the Lives of Older People: Understanding Local and Global Social Change

This chapter provides an overview of the various strands of my research on community and environmental perspectives on aging and later life. Following an outline of biographical influences and early work in critical gerontology, the chapter provides examples from research (with a variety of colleagues) covering themes relating to family and community life in old age, the impact of social exclusion, and the development of transnational communities. The chapter then reviews subsequent work on the impact of globalization on urban life, and research on the theme of "age-friendly cities." The chapter concludes with a summary of future research agendas for Environmental Gerontology.