Spatialities of ageing: The co-construction and co-evolution of old age and space

Abstract

This editorial introduction to the themed issue is divided into four parts. We begin with outlining five reasons for more sustained attention to ageing and old age in human geography and go onto discuss two major challenges for geographical inquiry into ageing and later life. One of these is examining embodiment in ways that keep both its social/cultural aspects and its biological/physiological dimensions in sharp focus; the other concerns the challenge of considering time, or rather spatiotemporality, in all its facets. With regard to the latter we argue that the life-course concept can be helpful in this regard, especially if attention is paid to transitions as well as to slow, difficult-to-identify forms of change and if life-courses are understood in terms of folds. Thinking in these terms opens up a perspective according to which ageing and space can be analysed as entwined becomings. We conclude by positioning the contributions in this issue vis-à-vis the perspective developed in this piece.