Ciudadanía y voluntariado senior en la sociedad telemática. Estudio de AVIMEX como paradigma del envejecimiento activo e inclusivo en Extremadura

Resumen

This doctoral thesis shows the different roles played by the elderly in postmodern societies, as citizens who participate actively in social democratic processes. This sociological research explains the social constructions of the elderly, and does not accept so-called ageism or discrimination based on age. Currently elderly people are a social achievement a result of medical advances, nutritional improvements or welfare policies, but they are also a social capital whose knowledge and life experiences can be shared with other age groups and generations. Among existing theories on ageing and old age, this research supports the paradigm of the life cycle to understand the vulnerabilities and strengths during early stages of human development, recognizing experiences throughout life. The heterogeneity of the elderly in a context of demographic and active ageing is considered, as a result of the process of optimizing the opportunities for health, participation and security in order to improve the quality of life in the growing ageing population. To reach these goals, social participation is analyzed through partnerships and senior volunteerism, as a new phenomenon of social action, empowerment and intergenerational solidarity in ageing and telematic societies. The empirical study focuses on a social organization for the elderly, Asociación de Voluntarios Informáticos Mayores de Extremadura (AVIMEX), which represents a space of social participation and community development, in order to eradicate the digital divide, from vital social responsibility and commitment with the ethics of e-inclusion.