Purpose This study illuminates the concept of "aging in place" in terms of functional, symbolic, and emotional attachments and meanings of homes, neighbourhoods, and communities. It investigates how older people understand the meaning of "aging in place," a term widely used in aging policy and research but underexplored with older people themselves. Design and methods Older people (n = 121), ranging in age from 56 to 92 years, participated in focus groups and interviews in 2 case study communities of similar size in Aotearoa New Zealand, both with high ratings on deprivation indices. The question, "What is the ideal place to grow older?" was explored, including reflections on aging in place. Thematic and narrative analyses on the meaning of aging in place are presented in this paper. Results Older people want choices about where and how they age in place. "Aging in place" was seen as an advantage in terms of a sense of attachment or connection and feelings of security and familiarity in relation to both homes and communities. Aging in place related to a sense of identity both through independence and autonomy and through caring relationships and roles in the places people live. Implications Aging in place operates in multiple interacting ways, which need to be taken into account in both policy and research. The meanings of aging in place for older people have pragmatic implications beyond internal "feel good" aspects and operate interactively far beyond the "home" or housing.

The Meaning of “Aging in Place” to Older People

‘Active ageing’ is a key concept in current policy and research on ageing and yet is under-analysed or interpreted largely within an economic framework. This paper explores active ageing in the broader context of older people's lives. Drawing on a series of biographical interviews with 23 people aged 60–96 years, the discussion focuses on the theme of future hopes and concerns. Exhortations for ‘active ageing’ may be challenged by a lifelong unwillingness to look forward or plan ahead. Nevertheless, the findings show that fears for a future of limited resources, decline and dependency can exist alongside not only the desire to live longer but also the positive anticipation of forthcoming events and strong inter-generational relations. ‘Living for now’ and ‘taking a day at a time’ – and by extension the accomplishment of everyday activities rather than the activity-driven goals of earlier years – are common strategies for dealing with the unpredictability of later life. In this respect, even stopping paid work and entering residential care may be actively chosen and empowering even though they are steps towards disengagement and dependency. Similarly, planning for death, such as writing (living) wills and making funeral arrangements, may be positive and proactive responses to beliefs and concerns about dying. ‘Active ageing’ therefore needs to offer choices for life to be lived at all stages whilst recognising that much of the focus for older people is on ordinary needs, deeds and relationships.

Hopes, fears and expectations about the future: what do older people's stories tell us about active ageing?

Drawing on a recently completed qualitative study in a northern English city, this paper explores motivations and experiences of Accession 8 (A8) migrants who have entered the United Kingdom following the expansion of the European Union in 2004. The paper considers commonalities and differences among the group of migrants routinely referred to as A8 migrant workers/labourers. Diversity is apparent in three particular respects: first, the motivations and forms of movement undertaken; second, their experiences of work within the UK paid labour market; and third, the extent to which the act and experience of migration offers new individual and collective opportunities and potentially opens up spaces for people to negotiate structural constraints and reconfigure aspects of their identity.

/pdf/the-experiences-of-accession-8-migrants-in-england-5bdxd7tfi9.pdf

The experiences of accession 8 migrants in England : motivations, work and agency

The fourth age remains a poorly understood phenomenon and there is a lack of understanding of the perceptions of those who might be considered to be living in it. This article draws on findings from a study of dignity in later life which examined the day-to-day experiences of participants who were in need of support and care because of failing health. It discusses their accounts of the changes to their sense of self and their identity that came about as a result of their ageing and health problems and looks also at the ways in which the support and care they received helped to shape their adjustment to those changes. The accounts given by participants reveal a great deal about the physical, mental and emotional effort entailed in maintaining a sense of self and highlight the essential role played by social relationships in the maintenance of identity. These findings are analysed by reference to emerging theories of the fourth age.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0144686X12000761

Identity in the fourth age: perseverance,adaptation and maintaining dignity

Australia has one of the most diverse migrant populations in the world. This pattern of cultural diversity is also reflected in the older population, with increasing numbers of older people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. The aim of the present review is to examine the evidence base related to the health and social needs and existing support systems for older Australians from CALD backgrounds. It is difficult to generalise the issues and challenges associated with these groups because of their heterogeneity, both between and within groups. However, their health and social needs may be particularly acute as a result of cultural and language barriers; their geographical location and the circumstances of migration, which impact on their financial circumstances as well as psycho-social health. Whilst there is a range of community and government stakeholders involved in addressing these issues, the evidence base for policy and practice is not well understood. © 2006 The Authors Journal compilation

Health and social needs of older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds: issues and implications

This study examines person-centred support, a key new concern in public services. It does this by bringing together for the fi rst time the views, ideas and experience of service users, face to face practitioners and managers. Government is committed to ‘personalisation’, ‘self-directed support’ and ‘individual budgets’ in social care, aiming for increased choice and control for the people who use services. This is a move away from traditional, ‘one-size-fi ts-all’ approaches.

Person-centred support - What service users and practitioners say.

Social support and ethnicity in old age

The Participation of Adult Service Users, including Older People, in Developing Social Care. Practice Guide for Social Care Institute for Excellence

Identity, meaning and social support.

This study set out to explore quality of life and social support among older people from different ethnic groups We carried out in-depth interviews with 203 older people from Caribbean, Asian (including Chinese), African and white communities aged 55 and over The study suggests that ethnicity influences both collective and personal responses to perceptions of quality of life Summary of key findings Health, income and social support were generally agreed to be important components of quality of life but the importance participants assigned to each of these aspects varied Expectations played a significant part in determining the extent to which people assessed their quality of life as being good Past experiences, current and future prospects, and considerations about other paths that their lives might have taken were all used as ways of setting markers for assessing quality of life Ethnicity appeared to have a significant bearing on quality of life White participants tended to report better levels of health and higher incomes than participants from other ethnic groups At the same time, participants from other ethnic groups tended to view the process of growing older more positively More consideration needs to be given to the impact of discrimination upon quality of life Just under half of the sample of minority ethnic people said that they had experienced racism with almost twothirds of those who had experienced racism suggesting that they had done nothing about it Almost one in five participants reported that ageism or being judged by their age had made their experiences of growing older more negative Levels of social support were generally high across all participants but this may be experienced differently between different ethnic groups For all older people practical and emotional support was most often provided by families and friends, but for minority ethnic older people voluntary organisations played a vital role in providing support in terms of information and advice Exploring ethnicity, social support and quality of life

http://growingolder.group.shef.ac.uk/GOFindings23.pdf

Quality of life and social support among people from different ethnic groups

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