The biographization of old age and the orientation to biography in social work with the elderly

In old age, individualization processes also simultaneously effect the opportunity and necessity to shape one's life. Societal orientation dissipates, and the certainties of earlier times disappear. Plurality and option appear as an increasing twofold challenge to coping with life. These ambiguities characterize modern old age. Or in other words: the biographization of old age has begun. Against this background, the orientation to biography in social work with the elderly is redefined as the reflective handling of the various selfthematizations, which arise, in order to again gain security in unclear circumstances and to reposition oneself. Implied in this, too, is that the orientation to biography requires an scientific foundation and that the naive treatment of narrative life-history in the past is to be overcome.