Shorter Notes

Kaplan’s latest book picks up some of the ideas from his earlier writings on leisure and examines these in the setting of old age. In so doing, he provides a welcome addition to the sparse literature examining the relationships between leisure and the needs of the elderly. This paucity can probably be attributed to two main factors. The first is that leisure is not normally associated with ‘problems’ and the elderly are rarely considered worthy of attention until they become a problem. Secondly, for one reason or another, many leisure activities are not viewed as being appropriate pursuits for the elderly. Quite often this is a perfectly realistic assessment, but more frequently derives from social mores based on misguided assumptions, and much of Kaplan’s effort is given to attempts to counter such beliefs. The challenge of this book lies in its attempt to integrate theoretical concepts with practical examples of the lifestyles of the elderly, an attempt to reconcile theory and practice. To this end, the early part of the book is concerned to present a theoretical perspective before moving on to consider more pragmatic issues, first in the form of operating environments and ‘activity experiences’, then in the form of policies. This kind of link is frequently called for in the social sciences, less often attempted and all too rarely implemented successfully. Here, the link could at times beneficially be explored more rigorously; it is not sufficient simply to juxtapose theory and anecdotal material. The theoretical basis for Kaplan’s work is derived from the concept of social roles (assumed to comprise : a social circle; the functions the individual performs ; attitudes towards self, towards others and towards the relationship between self and others; and, rewards, status and esteem). Although such an approach does have its drawbacks, it has the considerable advantage of encouraging an analysis of processes rather than falling back on a description of what currently is. Moreover, it acknowledges that leisure does not simply have one meaning, but is a phenomenon with changing significance, not only from one person to another, but for the same person from time to time. Thus, ageing in general and retirement in particular see a recasting of an individual’s role, placing different emphasis on the various components of life. This process of transition and re-adjustment of roles represents an alternative to the shedding of roles portrayed by the disengagement theory, and the wholesale acquisition of new roles advocated by the activity theorists. Kaplan would similarly reject the notion of a ‘roleless role’ in old age. Whether the ‘Protestant work ethic’ is a myth, as Kaplan would argue, or reality, it is still extremely influential and lies at the source of many of the