User involvement and critical gerontology are two key concepts and approaches for social work and related services with older people in the early 21st century. Yet, so far exploration of their interrelations seems to be at an early stage. For this reason, the aim of this chapter, to look more closely and critically at the role of user involvement in relation to critical gerontology in a European context, is likely to be both especially timely and productive. The praxis of user involvement is likely to be maximised through a critical gerontological lens and, in turn, critical gerontology is unlikely to fulfil its promise unless united with an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of participation. The chapter will address user involvement in policy, practice, learning and research and conclude with a case study offering implications for practice.

It is because such a focus on the involvement of older people is not only consistent with a critical gerontological approach but is also likely to be a key feature in its development that we need to get beyond the rhetorical appeal of such involvement to examine the ideological, practical and discriminatory constraints operating on it and how these may be unpicked and overcome. While my work on participation has mainly been located in the United Kingdom (UK), it has also involved numerous cooperation and international studies and activities with a wide range of European countries, which will be drawn on in this discussion. Worth noting is also that this chapter offers valuable contributions to ongoing debates on user involvement.

Conflicting approaches to involvement

While participatory developments in relation to social work and beyond have been different and have taken place at different speeds and to different degrees in different countries, there is no question that the move to greater user and carer involvement, including that of older people, has been an international and pan-European one (Cox and Pawar, 2006; Bastiaens et al, 2007; Borg et al, 2015; Chiapparini, 2016; Beresford, 2018). The pressure for such involvement has come from both those shaping policy and those on the receiving end of it.