Combining Cultural Anthropology and Gerontology

. One of the central objectives of gerontology is to provide categories and criteria for practical application. In contrast, cultural anthropology describes and interprets processes observed in various practical contexts but does not aim to create practical applications. For concepts such as “culture,” this discrepancy in goals might be the source of misunderstandings and even conflicting definitions. Bringing together the perspectives of both disciplines on culture, this paper illustrates the pitfalls of an understanding of culture grounded in geographical origins. It focuses on the situation in Germany and thereby addresses a universal problem using certain conceptions of culture in the context of aging and migration. In conclusion, it presents alternative approaches, while also addressing methodological issues.