Abstract:

The progressive population aging is both, a public responsibility and a social challenge. There is a shortage of qualitative social studies focused on analysing the problems faced by older adults, according to their own perspective. For this reason, the present study, based on the paradigm of active aging, aims to analyse mayor concerns and self-perceived problems by older adults themselves, as well as subjective assessment and attributions they make of them. Therefore, we study not only these problems, but also the implications that these have in personal, emotional, family and social areas. Furthermore, this research is approached from a comparative perspective between Germany and Spain, which are context with different models of Social Welfare. For this purpose, a qualitative research was designed using the techniques of semi-structured interview and focus group. Participants were selected in a double profile: expert and older adult. The criterion of discourse saturation established the final sample of 56 study subjects. We highlight poverty, loneliness and the break with lifestyles and social networks, which feed each other and affect different areas of life.

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