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Katherine H. Leith, PhD(c), LMSW, Arnold School of Public Health, Dept. of Health Services Policy & Management, University of South Carolina, Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29201, (803)777-5620, leith@sc.edu
Introduction: Generally, women can expect to liver longer than men, and many older women must or choose to consider alternative housing options as they are physically and/or financially unable to maintain the family home. This qualitative study explored the meaning of home for older women living in a congregate housing complex who have been more or less successful in making it a home.
Methods: Through in-depth interviews, 20 older women shared detailed descriptions of their thoughts, feelings, and ideas of home and of their current environment as a home. Interviews were analyzed with the computer software NVivo by using the process of identifying, coding, and categorizing patterns and themes and then distilling categories by selecting, ordering, and clustering them.
Results: All but one of the women were emotionally attached to their new environment and considered it home. Although they varied little on race (85% white) and self-reported health (95% good/very good), they varied considerably in age (65-91yrs.) and length of stay (< 12ms to >10yrs). Common themes were that the women made (1) an autonomous decision to move, (2) a deliberate choice to be happy anywhere, and (3) an ongoing effort to become part of their new environment.
Implications: A successful late-life move depends less on concrete and/or external factors (e.g., ability to keep possession, attachment to previous place) and more on social and/or intrinsic factors (e.g., being open and flexible to change, cultivating old and new relationships). Housing policy must become more reflective of the processes older adults use to be “at home.”
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants in this session will be able to
Keywords: Aging, Environment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.