Abstract
While older adults are disproportionately affected by multiple forms of exclusion, research and policy concentrate on those of working age, those with low-income, and children. The lack of consensus in Europe as to older adult experiences during the economic crisis has marginalised concerns for old-age disadvantage even further. Social exclusion has emerged redefined from this period as a policy that almost explicitly does not consider later life. It is within this context that the ROSEnet (Reducing Old-Age Social Exclusion in Europe) COST Action aims to critically investigate the construction of life-course old age exclusion, refocusing scientific research on older adult disadvantage in Europe and beyond. This paper presents a conceptual framework derived from state-of-the-art international knowledge on old-age exclusion. The analysis will identify key mechanisms of exclusion in today’s global context and explore the relative nature of old-age exclusion as an empirical and conceptual challenge in cross-national ageing studies.