Negotiating Agency in the Elderly Consumption Ensemble

Over 18% of Americans over the age of 75 require assistance with daily consumption activities. Assistance is often provided by family, friends, and paid care providers in changing configurations over time. We refer to these people together with the elderly consumer as the elderly consumption ensemble. Through depth interviews with ensemble members, this research investigates how consumer agency operates within the ensemble, including how it is constrained, enhanced, contested, and shared by elderly consumers, family members, and market providers. Contributions include adding to our understanding of the nature of consumer agency and to the socially embedded nature of consumption.

Citation:

Michelle Barnhart and Lisa Penaloza (2009) ,"Negotiating Agency in the Elderly Consumption Ensemble", in NA - Advances in Consumer Research Volume 36, eds. Ann L. McGill and Sharon Shavitt, Duluth, MN : Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 53-55.