Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T10:29:32.510Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Home environments and adaptations in the context of ageing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2014

SYLVIE RENAUT ,
JIM OGG ,
SÉGOLÈNE PETITE  and
ALINE CHAMAHIAN
SYLVIE RENAUT*
Affiliation:
Unité de recherche sur le vieillissement, Caisse nationale d'assurance vieillesse, Paris, France.
JIM OGG
Affiliation:
Unité de recherche sur le vieillissement, Caisse nationale d'assurance vieillesse, Paris, France.
SÉGOLÈNE PETITE
Affiliation:
Centre de Recherche ‘Individus, Epreuves, Sociétés’, Université de Lille 3, Lille, France.
ALINE CHAMAHIAN
Affiliation:
Centre de Recherche ‘Individus, Epreuves, Sociétés’, Université de Lille 3, Lille, France.
*
Address for correspondence: Sylvie Renaut, Unité de recherche sur le vieillissement, Caisse nationale d'assurance vieillesse, 49 rue Mirabeau, Paris, 75016, France. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

‘Ageing in place’ initiatives form an important part of broader ‘ageing well’ strategies that are being developed in response to demographic change. Increasingly, it is acknowledged that it is important to understand how individuals shape and modify the space within their own home and immediate environment to facilitate flexible solutions in the event of a loss of independence. The research presented here aims to understand how individuals construct the space both within their own home and their immediate surroundings and how this construction is linked to their own perception of ageing and growing old. A thematic analysis of 28 qualitative interviews resulted in two differentiated responses in relation to home adaptations: those respondents who had acted to modify their home and environment and those who instead sought to delay or ‘put off’ any modifications. The results demonstrate the multi-dimensional experience of ageing, the diversity of types of home environment, and the interplay between compensatory solutions and the social contexts within which they take place. The need for a more holistic approach that takes into account factors such as an individual's experience of ageing is suggested in order to understand the use of space in home environments and the adaptations that are made to them. Policy initiatives for ‘ageing in place’ can be reinforced by closer user involvement.

Keywords

home modificationsadaptationsenvironmental gerontology
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 35 , Issue 6 , July 2015 , pp. 1278 - 1303
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Appleton, N. 2002. Planning for the Majority. The Needs and Aspirations of Older People in General Housing. Available online at http://www.jrf.org.uk/bookshop/eBooks/1842630970.pdf [Accessed 26 December 2013].Google Scholar
Baltes, M. M. and Lang, F. R. 1997. Everyday functioning and successful aging: the impact of resources. Psychology and Aging, 12, 4, 433–43.Google Scholar
Baltes, P. B. and Baltes, M. M. 1990. Psychological perspectives on successful aging: the model of selective optimization with compensation. In Baltes, P. B. and Baltes, M. M. (eds), Successful Aging: Perspectives from the Behavioral Sciences. Cambridge University Press, New York, 1–34.Google Scholar
Barthe, J.-F., Clément, S. and Drulhe, M. 1988. Vieillesse ou vieillissement? Les processus d'organisation des modes de vie chez les personnes âgées. Les Cahiers de la Recherche sur le Travail Social, 15, 11–31.Google Scholar
Bonvalet, C. and Ogg, J. 2008. The housing situation and residential strategies of older people in France. Ageing & Society, 28, 6, 753–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boulmier, M. 2010. Bien vieillir à domicile: enjeux d'habitat, enjeux de territoires [Ageing Well at Home: Challenges of the Environment and Locality]. Available online at http://lesrapports.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/BRP/114000077/0000.pdf [Accessed 26 December 2013].Google Scholar
Boyatzis, R. 1998. Transforming Qualitative Information: Thematic Analysis and Code Development. Sage, Thousand Oaks, California.Google Scholar
Broussy, L. 2013. L'adaptation de la société au vieillissement de sa population [The Adaptation of Society to an Ageing Population]. Available online at http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/var/storage/rapports-publics/134000173/0000.pdf [Accessed 20 December 2013].Google Scholar
Caradec, V. 2007. L’épreuve du grand âge. Retraite et société, 52, 3, 11–37.Google Scholar
Chamahian, A. and Lefrançois, C. (eds) 2012. Vivre les âges de la vie. De l'adolescence au grand âge [Living Different Life Stages. From Adolescence to Old Age] . L'Harmattan, Paris.Google Scholar
Croucher, K. 2008. Housing Choices and Aspirations of Older People. Research from the New Horizons Programme. Available online at http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/doc/aspirationsresearch [Accessed 26 December 2013].Google Scholar
Demakakos, P., Gjonca, E. and Nazroo, J. 2007. Age identity, age perceptions, and health: evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1114, 279–87.Google Scholar
Denzin, N. K. 1989. The Research Act. Third Edition, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.Google Scholar
Department for Communities and Local Government 2008. Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods. A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society. Available online at http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120919132719/www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/housingageingsociety [Accessed 26 December 2013].Google Scholar
European Commission Information Society and Media 2010. Overview of the European Strategy in ICT for Ageing Well. Available online at http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/docs/ageing/overview.pdf [Accessed 26 December 2013].Google Scholar
Evans, G. D., Kantrowitz, E. and Eshelman, P. 2002. Housing quality and psychological well-being among the elderly population. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 57B, 4, P381–4.Google Scholar
Fänge, A. and Iwarsson, S. 2003. Accessibility and usability in housing – construct validity and implications for research and practice. Disability and Rehabilitation, 25, 23, 1316–25.Google Scholar
Gershon, R. R., Dailey, M., Magda, L. A., Riley, H. E., Conolly, J., Silver, A. 2012. Safety in the home healthcare sector: development of a new household safety checklist. Journal of Patient Safety, 8, 2, 51–9.Google Scholar
Gignac, M. A. M., Cott, C. and Badley, E. M. 2000. Adaptation to chronic illness and disability and its relationship to perceptions of independence and dependence. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 55B, 6, P362–72.Google Scholar
Gilleard, C. and Higgs, P. 2000. Cultures of Ageing: Self, Citizen and the Body. Prentice Hall, Harlow, UK.Google Scholar
Gitlin, L. N. 2003. Conducting research on home environments. Lessons learned and new directions. The Gerontologist, 43, 5, 628–37.Google Scholar
Gitlin, L. N. 2006. Environmental assessment. In Schulz, R. (ed), The Encyclopedia of Aging. Fourth Edition, Springer, New York, 374–5.Google Scholar
Gitlin, L. N., Corcoran, M., Winter, L., Boyce, A. and Hauck, W. W. 2001. A randomized, controlled trial of a home environmental intervention: effect on efficacy and upset in caregivers and on daily function of persons with dementia. The Gerontologist, 41, 1, 4–14.Google Scholar
Heywood, F. 2004. Understanding needs: a starting point for quality. Housing Studies, 19, 5, 709–26.Google Scholar
Heywood, F., Oldman, C. and Means, R. 2002. Housing and Home in Later Life. Open University Press, Buckingham, UK.Google Scholar
Hillcoat-Nallétamby, S., Ogg, J., Renaut, S. and Bonvalet, C. 2010. Ageing populations and housing needs: comparing strategic policy discourses in France and England. Social Policy & Administration, 44, 7, 808–26.Google Scholar
Kerjosse, R. and Weber, A. 2003. Aides techniques et aménagements du logement : usages et besoins des personnes âgées vivant à domicile [Technical aids and home adaptations: use and needs of older people living at home]. Etudes et résultats, 262, September, 1–11.Google Scholar
Lawton, M. P. 1977. The impact of the environment on aging and behavior. In Birren, J. E. and Schaie, K. W. (eds), Handbook of the Psychology of Aging. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 276–301.Google Scholar
Lawton, M. P. 1982. Competence, environmental press, and the adaptation of older people. In Lawton, M. P., Windley, P. G. and Byerts, T. O. (eds), Aging and the Environment. Springer, New York, 33–59.Google Scholar
Lawton, M. P. 1989. Environmental proactivity in older people. In Bengtson, V. L. and Schaie, K. W. (eds), The Course of Later Life. Springer, New York, 15–23.Google Scholar
Levy, B. R. 2003. Mind matters: cognitive and physical effects of aging self-stereotypes. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 58B, 4, 203–11.Google Scholar
Lewis, A., Torrington, J., Barnes, S., Darton, R., Holder, J., McKee, K., Netten, A. and Orrell, A. 2010. EVOLVE: a tool for evaluating the design of older people's housing. Housing, Care and Support, 13, 3, 36–41.Google Scholar
Lowery, K., Buri, H. and Ballard, C. 2000. What is the prevalence of environmental hazards in the homes of dementia sufferers and are they associated with falls. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 15, 10, 883–6.Google Scholar
Ministère de la Santé et des Solidarités, Ministère délégué à la Sécurité Sociale aux Personnes âgées aux Personnes handicapées et à la Famille 2007. Plan national ‘Bien vieillir’ 2007–2009 [Ageing Well, 2007–2009]. Available online at http://www.travail-solidarite.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/presentation_plan-3.pdf [accessed 26 December 2013].Google Scholar
Ministère délégué à la Sécurité sociale, Personnes âgées, aux Personnes handicapées et à la Famille 2006. Plan solidarité grande âge [Solidarity with Older People]. Available online at http://www.cnsa.fr/IMG/pdf/plan_solidarite_grand_age-2.pdf [Accessed 26 December 2013].Google Scholar
National Centre for Social Research 2012. English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Wave 5 Interview Questionnaire – 2010–2011. Available online at http://www.ifs.org.uk/elsa/docs_w5/questionnaire_main.pdf [accessed 10 December 2013].Google Scholar
Nord, C., Eakin, P., Astley, P. and Atkinson, A. R. 2009. An exploration of communication between clients and professionals in the design of home adaptations. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72, 5, 197–204.Google Scholar
Ogg, J. and Gorgeon, C. 2003. Social gerontology in France: historical trends and recent developments. Ageing & Society, 23, 6, 1–18.Google Scholar
Oswald, F., Wahl, H. W., Schilling, O., Nygren, C., Fange, A., Sixsmith, A., Sixsmith, J., Szeman, Z., Tomsone, S. and Iwarsson, S. 2007. Relationships between housing and healthy aging in very old age. The Gerontologist, 47, 1, 96–107.Google Scholar
Petersson, I., Kottorp, A., Bergström, J. and Lilja, M. 2009. Longitudinal changes in everyday life after home modifications for people aging with disabilities. Scandanavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 16, 2, 78–87.Google Scholar
Petersson, I., Lilja, M. and Borell, L. 2012. To feel safe in everyday life at home – a study of older adults after home modifications. Ageing & Society, 32, 5, 791–811.Google Scholar
Renaut, S., Ogg, J., Petite, S. Chamahian, A. and Vermeersch, S. 2012. L'aménagement du logement, son accessibilité et les aides techniques: usages et besoins, connaissance des dispositifs dans l'enquête Handicap-Santé [Home Adaptations, Accessibility and Technical Aids: Use, Needs and Information in the Disability-Health Survey]. Available online at http://www.fng.fr/html/etudes_recherche/1pdf/FNG_Cnav_Renaut_Post_Enquetes_HSM.pdf [Accessed 26 December 2013].Google Scholar
Sixsmith, A. and Sixsmith, J. 2008. Ageing in place in the United Kingdom. Ageing International, 32, 3, 219–35.Google Scholar
Steverink, N., Westerhof, G. J., Bode, C. and Dittmann-Kohli, F. 2001. The personal experience of aging, individual resources, and subjective well-being. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 56B, 6, 364–73.Google Scholar
Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe 2013. Wave 4.8.8 Questionnaire – Version 4.8. (Fieldwork) – Generic (English). Available online at http://www.share-project.org/fileadmin/pdf_questionnaire_wave_4/_Share_wave_4.8.8.pdf [Accessed 10 December 2013].Google Scholar
Thomése, F. and Broese van Groenou, M. 2006. Adaptive strategies after health decline in later life: increasing the person–environment fit by adjusting the social and physical environment. European Journal of Ageing, 3, 4, 169–77.Google Scholar
UK Local Government Association 2013. Ageing Well Legacy 2013. Available online at http://www.local.gov.uk/ageing-well [Accessed 26 December 2013].Google Scholar
Wahl, H.-W., Oswald, F. and Zimprich, D. 1999. Everyday competence in visually impaired older adults: a case for person–environment perspectives. The Gerontologist, 39, 2, 140–9.Google Scholar
Wahl, H.-W. and Weissman, J. 2003. Environmental gerontology at the beginning of the new millennium: reflections on its historical, empirical and theoretical development. The Gerontologist, 43, 5, 616–27.Google Scholar
Westerhof, G. J. and Barrett, A. E. 2005. Age identity and subjective well-being: a comparison of the United States and Germany. Journals of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 60B, 3, S129–36.Google Scholar
Winters, S. (ed.) 2001. Lifetime Housing in Europe. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.Google Scholar