INTERDEPENDENCE AND THE AGED STEREOTYPE

If being dependent is a stigmatised state in western society, then old er members of the society will attempt to define their situation as in dependent. However, most people act out their daily lives involved in social networks in which they exchange money, goods, services, emotion al support, etc., with kin, friends, neighbours, etc. From the qualita tive analysis of 78 interviews with older persons living independently in the community, the concept 'independence' was found to include int erdependence. When asked to define and describe their independence, pa rticipants illustrated how they were not dependent and they were not p owerless. The key concepts in the maintenance of their independence li festyle are control, mediation and reciprocation of assistance. It is concluded that the assessment of independence, and the development of programs aimed at promoting independence, should be expanded to includ e participation within unique interdependent networks.