ETHICS AND AGEING IN ELDERLY CARE HOMES: COMBATING PATHOLOGICAL VULNERABILITY

Abstract

After drawing a distinction between existential vulnerability and “pathological” vulnerability, this contribution focuses on the issue of the “pathological” vulnerability of the elderly. It shows the link at work between the existence of elderly care homes and the emergence of this acquired vulnerability – which could therefore be avoided. e pathological vulnerability of the elderly
is entirely created by society and the “discontinuous”, medicalising view it takes of old age. Elderly care homes, the very consequence of society’s view of old age, through the elective rupture they create, in turn contribute to increasing the pathological vulnerability of elderly people living in institutions.