Barriers to Multidimensional Civic Engagement Among Older People Living in Residential Aged Care Facilities: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Although research on older adults’ civic engagement has expanded, residents of residential aged care facilities (RACFs) remain overlooked. Drawing on life-story interviews with 60 residents in Belgium, Finland, Spain, and Sweden, this study examines their civic activities and barriers to engagement. Civic engagement was generally low and mainly limited to informal helping and associational membership. Engagement was constrained by barriers related to resources, motivation, and opportunities, many of which were specific to the RACF context. While some barriers cut across activity types, others were activity-specific. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to support meaningful civic engagement in RACFs.