Institutional Life Course

The life course is also influenced by the social and bureaucratic institutions and structures that are within our society. Policies and practices can shape the roles available to different groups of people, and therefore, influence the opportunities and choices that we have at different points in our lives.

Moreover, these institutions and structures can influence our health and well-being, whether this is in relation to, for instance, the provision of free services for people of a certain age or the availability of respite services for family carers. By exploring the life course as a product of policies and practices, and the underlying values and norms that they represent, we can identify elements of the life course that are created and enforced by our own society.

One example is the ICSG's DAISIE project, which looks into how extended working life (EWL) policies affect older workers (50+) in five countries: Czech Republic, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK. It focuses on three occupations: nursing, railway workers, and financial services and examines these impacts from gender, comparative, and intergenerational perspectives

Another example is the ICSG's Older Traveller Older Homeless Study project. This study explores the life-course and structural factors that contribute to positive subjective health among older Travellers and older homeless people. The goal is to highlight the voices of these groups and develop effective, ethical, and rights-based models for home care delivery. By understanding these influences, we can work towards more inclusive and supportive policies for all.