Abstract
The global discourse on ageing frequently aligns older adulthood with physical and functional decline, often conflating ageing with disability. This conceptual paper critically reviews the literature on how ageing and disability are framed, questioning the dominant biomedical orientation that associates ageing with inevitable impairment. Drawing on cross-disciplinary perspectives, the paper interrogates how ageing is socially and culturally constructed, and how this influences its conflation with disability. It explores competing models of disability that are, medical, social, and biopsychosocial and highlights the role of contextual and subjective perceptions in shaping how societies interpret the ageing process. While recognising intersections between ageing and disability, the paper argues for their conceptual distinction to avoid the marginalisation of older adults and people with disabilities. This review also addresses the significant underrepresentation of African contexts in global discussions, pointing to the need for more inclusive perspectives that reflect diverse lived experiences. The paper concludes by proposing a reframing of ageing and disability as distinct yet sometimes overlapping trajectories, with implications for policy, research and health equity.
Presenters
Doris Akosua TayLecturer, Physical Education and Sport Studies Department, University of Ghana, Ghana
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Social and Cultural Perspectives on Aging
KEYWORDS
AGEING,DISABILITY, CONCEPTUALIZATION, DISABILITYMODELS, SUBJECTIVE PERCEPTIONS, CULTURALCONTEXTS