2025/09/22 by Luciana Lang, Sophie Yarker, Chris Phillipson +1 · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving #Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies #Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
paper · doi:10.1080/15528030.2025.2559227
openalex publication_date 2025/09/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
Faith spaces are vital but overlooked forms of social infrastructure that support older adults. They are especially important for marginalized and minoritized groups who may face barriers to mainstream services. While Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC) initiatives aim to develop supportive environments for ageing populations, they have rarely engaged with faith spaces, despite their role in facilitating community support and informal care. This paper addresses this gap by examining both the existing and potential contributions of faith spaces to the development of AFCC, highlighting how faith spaces currently serve, and could further enhance social support for older adults, particularly those from marginalised and minoritized groups. Drawing on 18 months of ethnographic fieldwork across four faith spaces in Greater Manchester, UK, this study highlights how faith spaces provide practical, emotional, and spiritual support, facilitate intergenerational exchange, and act as gateways to wider community engagement. However, findings also reveal structural inequalities, including disparities in resources between faith communities and exclusions shaped by gender, cultural norms, and racial discrimination. This paper argues that a more strategic integration of faith spaces into AFCC frameworks can enhance the inclusivity the AFCC movement and strengthen support for diverse communities, particularly marginalised groups navigating life transitions.