The Oldest Old as Voluntary Workers

Chapter 10, “The oldest old as voluntary workers,” explores volunteering as a meaningful approach to promote the inclusion of the oldest old adults in society. The literature extensively documents the relationship between volunteering and the health and well-being of older individuals. Volunteering has been shown to have positive effects on both physical and mental health, with particular benefits observed for individuals in mid and later life. However, studies specifically focusing on the oldest old adults are limited. The chapter examines interview accounts from women and men in their 80s or older who are actively involved in voluntary work. These interviews were collected as part of a research project in Umbria, Italy, and were audio recorded and transcribed for analysis. The primary goal of the chapter is to emphasize the significance of voluntary activities in the lives of very old individuals, while also examining the obstacles and challenges they encounter, particularly related to ageism, in pursuing their preferred voluntary activities. Using a detailed discourse analysis within an ethnomethodological framework, the interview accounts are examined in relation to age categorization work and age identity work. This examination reveals instances of both anti-ageist, defensive practices and discriminatory practices, as well as instances of auto-inflicted ageism. Volunteering emerges as a defence against exclusion and feeling of irrelevance for oldest old adults.