In the first funding period of the Research Unit (FOR 5022), the empirical subproject 6 (SP6) examined the relationship between medicine and the temporal structure of the good life from the perspective of older people (aged 75 and above) as well as their medical and nursing care providers. A central role was attributed to social integration in the sense of being needed—both as an important resource in the background of medical care and as a source of meaning and satisfaction in later life more generally, and thus as an aspect of the good life. Various forms of social engagement emerged as specific opportunities in this regard and are taken up and further examined in the second funding period by the subproject (SP-E).

The focus lies on social engagement as a form of generativity in old age and on its potential impact on health and a good life. Promoting this through primary care is the aim of the service model of social prescribing, which has not yet been established in healthcare provision in Germany. Social prescribing involves the prescription of non-pharmacological interventions to improve health and well-being, which may include different forms of social engagement. The aim of SP-E is to investigate the significance of social engagement as a generative act for a good life in old age. In doing so, the project also examines the relationships between social engagement and health, as well as the potentials and challenges of social prescribing in primary care.

Building on these findings, the project seeks to develop a practice-oriented guideline on social engagement and health promotion through social prescribing, which can be used to identify suitable patients and potential barriers to uptake. Focus group discussions will take into account the perspectives of both those affected and care providers in order to generate practice-relevant insights for the implementation of social prescribing. These insights are intended to complement the theoretical contributions to the core questions of FOR 5022, particularly those formulated by SP-A (Philosophy), SP-C (Psychocardiology), SP-F (Ethics of Geriatric Medicine), and the Center for Medical Ethics (ZIP). Cinematic representations of meaning and generativity in old age developed in SP-B (Film/Television) serve as sources of inspiration.

The subproject is based at the Institute of General Practice at the University Medical Center Göttingen.

Senior Researchers:

Prof. Dr. Eva Hummers
Dr. Evelyn Kleinert

Research Assistant:

Laura Mohacsi M.A.