‘Woo-hoo, what a ride!’ Older people, life stories and active ageing

This chapter argues that older people experience active ageing in a diversity of ways, both shared and unique, which are not necessarily captured in existing research, showing how active ageing is important to looking ahead beyond retirement, as well as being understood in terms of people's pasts. As illustrated by the various activities they took part in, participants in the study did all they could to enjoy their lives, despite physical and financial problems. The chapter explores the fit between discourses of active ageing in policy and older people's views of possibilities for being and acting. Two strong themes emerged from the interviews: ‘freedom’ and ‘helping others’. Active ageing, as it is thought about by the interviewees, actually depends on a perceived sense of freedom that older people may subsequently choose to use in helping others.