Push and Pull Factors Surrounding Older Adults’ Relocation to Supportive Housing: A Scoping Review

Do Health and Housing Attributes Motivate Residential Moves Among Older Chinese Adults? Evidence From an 8‑Year Follow‑up Study

Background and Objectives

Despite the widespread belief in aging-in-place as the preferred housing arrangement for older adults, they are increasingly embracing moving. The person-environment fit theory explains that environmental changes due to residential moves can pose health risks, discouraging older people from moving. However, it also suggests that moves may be suitable when living conditions no longer meet their physical needs. The correlation between older people's health, housing, and their subsequent moving or staying actions in China remains underexplored.

Research Design and Methods

Using alternative operating variables of key concepts and the China Family Panel Studies 2012-2018 data sets, this study examines the effects of health and housing status on older people's residential moves in China. The study outlines changes in health indicators and housing characteristics during multiple moves, as well as examines the relationship between the health and housing status of older adults and moving over a relatively long period of time using both regression models with lagged explanatory variables and fixed effects binary choice models.

Results

The results reveal that: (1) higher rates of subsequent moves were observed among older adults with better self-rated health, positive self-rated health changes, and no ADL impairment, but no significant associations were found between most health variables and moving; and (2) the correlation between older persons' house ownership/type and their residential moves was significant and consistent over time, steady and lasting.

Discussion and Implications

Potential mechanisms explaining the association between specific housing types and ownership statuses on moving are discussed. The findings encourage a focus on the positive benefits of moving in later life and how to provide additional housing options for older individuals.

Ageing in the right place-usability of a web-based housing counselling service

INTRODUCTION

Residential reasoning is a complex process that includes decisions on whether to age in place or to relocate. Ageing in the Right Place (ARP), a web-based housing counselling service was created to support older adults in this process. The study's aim was to evaluate the usability of the ARP as regards content, design, specific functions, and self-administration as a mode of delivery and to lay the ground for further optimisation.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Nine women and five men (aged 66-82) completed a series of tasks using the ARP. Qualitative and quantitative usability data were collected through online interviews. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis and descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Experiences of the specific functions, content, and design of the ARP were described as mainly positive. Additions to the content and optimisation to assist in the general navigation of the website were suggested. The participants disagreed regarding the preferred mode of delivery, which indicates a need for selectable options. A system usability scale median score of 84 indicated acceptable usability.

CONCLUSION

The ARP seems to have acceptable usability, which paves the way for further evaluation.

SIGNIFICANCE

By enabling residential reasoning, older adults are supported to make proactive choices based on informed decisions.

Current and Future Needs of Gerontological Social Work Practice in Alberta: Findings from the World Café at the Gerontological Symposium in Edmonton, Canada

The growing aging population in Canada has multi-faceted psycho-social needs. Social workers are well-positioned to address these needs, despite many challenges. This paper reports findings from the World Café at the Gerontology Symposium in Alberta, Canada, held in 2018. The goal was to learn from social work practitioners, researchers, and educators (N = 49) about current and future needs of gerontological social work in Alberta. There were two research questions: 1) What strategies do social workers need on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels to help better serve the growing older adult population in Alberta? (R1) 2) How can social workers promote the value and contribution of gerontological social work within the interprofessional community? (R2) The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Ten R1-related themes emerged: personal traits of a social worker; professional skills; bio-psycho-social needs of older adults; community connections; access to benefits; gerontological social work education; integrated healthcare; aging policy; ageism; and advocacy to strengthen the voice of older adults. The three R2-related themes include strengthening the status of the social work profession; building trust through demonstrated skills; and interprofessional education and practice.

Older people as active agents in their neighbourhood environments: Moving house can improve quality of life

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Neighbourhood environments are an important aspect of well-being for older people. Developments of the general ecological model recognise older people as active agents who adapt their environments to fit their changing needs. We provide empirical support for a model suggested by Wahl et al., by examining interactions between neighbourhood environments, personal situations, relocation, and quality of life among older people.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Two statistical models were tested with a sample of community dwelling participants (aged 55-89) in the New Zealand Health, Work and Retirement longitudinal surveys conducted in 2016 (T1) and 2018 (T2). Multiple linear regression assessed the association of perceptions of housing and neighbourhood with quality of life (QoL) at T1 (n = 3682).

RESULTS

QoL was predicted by housing satisfaction, and neighbourhood satisfaction, accessibility, and trust (controlling for age, gender, marital status, home ownership, SES, physical health and mental health). Mixed ANOVA showed that those who moved house between T1-T2 reported lower housing and neighbourhood satisfaction than non-movers at T1. Over time T1-T2, movers reported less decline in housing satisfaction, and more positive change on all neighbourhood perceptions, with higher perceptions of neighbourhood accessibility than non-movers at T2.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

These findings support the theoretical model and provide impetus for more detailed study of the effects of the environment on well-being in older age. Housing and neighbourhood environments are a very practical focus for social policy change at local and national levels.