Aging and Place: Clarifying the Discourse

Stafford, Philip B.

doi:10.1093/geront/gnw070

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…In this model, an older person's functioning is determined by the “fit” between “personal competences” (e.g., physical, psychological, and social functions) and “environmental characteristics” (e.g., the immediate and wider environments). As changes happen in either or both, older adults can try to adapt their physical and social environments to find a comfort zone by deploying their resources ( Greenfield, 2011 ; Lawton & Nahemow, 1973 ; Peace, Holland, & Kellaher, 2011 ; Stafford, 2016 ). This theoretical framework helps us to understand aging in place as a dynamic process of person-environment interactions.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Fiercely independent”: Experiences of aging in the right place of older women living alone with physical limitations

Narushima

Kawabata

2020

Journal of Aging Studies

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This study explores the experience of aging among older Canadian women with physical limitations who live by themselves. While aging in place has been a policy priority in rapidly greying Canada, a lack of complementary public supports poses challenges for many older adults and their family members. Employing a qualitative methodology, and drawing from the notion of aging in the right place , we collected personal narratives of 12 women (aged 65 to 92) in two geographic areas in Ontario, including residents of regular houses, apartments, condominiums, assisted living and community housing for seniors. Through thematic analysis, we identified four overarching themes: 1) striving to continue on “at home”, 2) living as a “strong independent woman”, 3) the help needed to support their “independence”, and 4) social activities to maintain self. Our findings illustrate how, despite their mobility limitations, older women can change their residential environment and their behavior by deploying the coping strategies and resources they have developed over time. However, we also found that older women are largely silent about their needs, and that experiences varied depending on life histories, health conditions, and the availability of supports in their wider environment (home care, alternative housing options, accessible transportation, opportunities for social and physical activities). We hope these findings will incite further studies and discussion to help make aging in the right place a real choice for anyone who wishes to do so.

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