Abstract
Work that does not end at a certain age but rather only due to illness is a fundamental principle of the kibbutz, allowing the continued employment of older adults in regular workplaces or special employment settings. The continuous living arrangements of these older adults are outstanding by western standards and they include multigenerational arrangements, social involvement, and receiving all services independent of their work. Nonetheless, recent changes in the kibbutzim are resulting in growing similarity of retirement patterns to those in general society. This lecture examines how kibbutz members aged 80+ present themselves, and their employment, in light of changes occurring within a single kibbutz as a case study. Life stories and observations were examined in two stages (Stage I: 20 participants, Stage II: 17 participants), where by Stage II (7 years later) a retirement age had been set, and employment tracks were distinguished by profitability. The study examines the centrality of the social context for understanding the oldest old in a setting that allows continued life conditions. The research findings in Stage I show that allowing continuity in various areas including employment provides older adults with resources that help them contend with age limitations. Employment identity was presented as continuing previous periods, where the sense of marginalized employment was revealed only “behind the scenes”. In Stage II, employment regulations not obligating work led some to retire, while those who continued working felt frustrated at the marginal role of their financial contribution and at their portrayal as old people.
Presenters
Ilana Mizrahi NaorLecturer, Health, The Academic Center of Law and Business, HaMerkaz, Israel
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Social and Cultural Perspectives on Aging
KEYWORDS
Oldest old Work Narrative research Aging self
