title: Responding to rural social care needs: older people empowering themselves, others and their community.
abstract: Older adult active retirement groups encompass health promotion, social and community psychological potential. However, little is known about the internal dynamics of these groups or their contribution to individual well-being and the community. This paper examines the Third Age Foundation as an example of one such group operating in a rural area in Ireland and explores the various relationships at work internally and externally. Methodology included: structured and semi-structured interviews, focus groups and a postal survey. A substantial contribution to members' well-being and community competence and cohesion was found. Findings are discussed in reference to the importance of individual and community empowerment, sustainability, social entrepreneurship/leadership and the potential of such models to support community-based living in older age.
authors.affiliation: Irish Centre for Social Gerontology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland. kieran.walsh@nuigalway.ie
authors.forename: Kieran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Eamon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Shea
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012179:Retirement; D012424:Rural Population; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires