Some Political Consequences of Senior Center and Other Old Age Group Memberships

Abstract

Although senior centers generally advance social and recreational goals, these groups may have far-reaching political consequences. Comparisons of aged individuals having exclusive senior center and other old age association memberships with those having mixed generational association memberships shows that each provides a context for political exchange and heightens political consciousness. However, because old age association members are partially separated from the influence of other generations, age status becomes an important attitudinal referent in member's orientations toward political processes.