Aging Well as Personal Responsibility: A Sociological Analysis of Active Aging Discourses Among Older Adults in Urban Sierra Leone

Abstract

This article examines the sociological dimensions of active aging as a personal responsibility among older adults in Sierra Leone. Drawing on qualitative data from 45 participants aged 60-85 in Freetown and Bo districts, the study explores how older adults negotiate physical activity, nutrition, cognitive engagement, and social connectivity in their daily lives. The research challenges prevailing dependency-focused narratives in African gerontology by positioning aging well as an individual and collective responsibility rather than a governmental promise. Using a combination of symbolic interactionism, activity theory, and Foucault's concept of biopower, the analysis reveals that older adults employ diverse strategies to maintain functionality and social relevance despite infrastructural and economic constraints. Findings indicate that successful aging is mediated by educational attainment, social networks, and access to health information, with significant variations across gender and socioeconomic lines. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on gerontology in sub-Saharan Africa by providing empirical evidence from Sierra Leone, a context currently underrepresented in aging research. Policy recommendations include community-based active aging programs, intergenerational knowledge transfer initiatives, and the integration of gerontological education into primary healthcare systems.