Negotiating a New World

In the UK, people are living longer and increasing numbers are living alone. Negotiating a New World offers a fresh perspective on how solo-living older people view their possible futures. It is based on research carried out by an experienced sociologist and written for a non-specialist audience. The book draws on interviews with 50 older people from across the United Kingdom.

This book examines what older people, who live alone, think about their futures and the possibility of needing care. It asks what autonomy means to them and explores the relationships they have with others, both within and outside their families. The book also explores the ways in which solo-living older people remain active and contribute to their local communities.

The text pays particular attention to how ageism and attitudes to risk impact the control that older adults have over their future lives. Ageism can be found in everyday life, in interactions with public agencies and in personal relationships. Risk is an inevitable aspect of life and something older people may be under pressure to avoid. However, attitude to risk is intensely personal, with perspectives changing across the life course.