Kate de Medeiros on Risky Business: Meaningful Engagement and Everyday Risk in Later Life

This keynote lecture, by social gerontologist Kate de Medeiros from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, explored the concept of risk, a discourse that is omnipresent in conversations about aging programs and services. Dr. de Medeiros carefully traced the origins of this term, explaining that risk is not always negative or to be avoided. Meaningful activities often involve a degree of risk that can be encouraged rather than eliminated in later life. This provocative talk was held as a hybrid event with over 80 registered attendees and was followed by a lively question and answer period, as well as a reception.

This event was co-organized by the engAGE Centre for Research on Aging and the ACTLab, and generously supported by Concordia’s Faculty of Arts and Science and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

About the speaker

Kate de Medeiros is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Concordia University. As a social gerontologist, her work has explored various topics related to the experience of growing old to include friendships in later life, the meaning of suffering, and home, place and identity.

This event was co-organized by the engAGE Centre for Research on Aging and the ACTLab, with generous support from the Faculty of Arts and Science and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology of Concordia University.