@article{gallistl_precarious_2022, title = {Precarious ageing in a global pandemic – older adults' experiences of being at risk due to {COVID}-19}, copyright = {CC-BY}, issn = {0144-686X, 1469-1779}, url = {https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0144686X22000381/type/journal_article}, doi = {10.1017/S0144686X22000381}, abstract = {Abstract Health authorities worldwide address older adults as a risk group for more serious illness and health complications associated with COVID-19, while social gerontologists have warned that addressing older adults as a risk group of COVID-19 bears the risk of reinforcing ageism. This paper empirically explores to what extent older adults perceive themselves as part of a COVID-19 risk group and how these perceptions influence their everyday lives and experiences of age and ageing. This paper draws upon data from a mixed-methods study on older adults' risk perceptions during COVID-19 in Lower Austria, including a representative survey on 521 adults (60+ years) and data from 20 semi-structured interviews. Approximately two-thirds of the respondents consider themselves at risk of COVID-19 and name age, in addition to pre-existing illness, as a contributing factor in this risk perception. Older adults with health constraints, and especially older men, have a higher probability of perceiving risk due to COVID-19. Additionally, older adults report that they experience being ‘suddenly seen as old’ or ‘being put into a box’ during the pandemic, which influenced their experiences and images of ageing. Our study provides insights into how perceived COVID-19 risk affects the everyday lives of older adults. Age-based categorisations of risk contribute to a shift in images of age and ageing, drawing on insecurity and risk, rather than successful and active ageing, to conceptualise later life.}, language = {en}, urldate = {2022-08-22}, journal = {Ageing and Society}, author = {Gallistl, Vera and Richter, Lukas and Heidinger, Theresa and Schütz, Teresa and Rohner, Rebekka and Hengl, Lisa and Kolland, Franz}, month = jul, year = {2022}, keywords = {Ilse Arlt Institut, best, best-lrichter, peer-reviewed}, pages = {1--19}, }