The process of mediated aging-in-place: a theoretically and empirically based model

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human Geography
• Sociology

Background:

• Aging-in-place is a key strategy for older adults, influenced by social and institutional factors.
• Adult day centers (ADCs) and assisted living residences (ALRs) are under-studied services supporting aging-in-place.
• Existing research often overlooks the geographical and experiential dimensions of aging-in-place.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-conceptualize aging-in-place as a process of place integration.
• To develop a theoretical model of place integration for older adults in ADCs and ALRs.
• To explore the role of home and community domains in the aging-in-place experience.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative fieldwork and empirical evidence analysis.
• Development of a theoretical model based on geographical theory and John Dewey's philosophy.
• Examination of socio-geographical differentiation affecting older adults' situations.

Main Results:

• Identified three core processes of place integration: reshaping experiential context, creating meaning through activity, and contesting space.
• Introduced 'approximating home and community' as a distillate of core processes.
• Highlighted 'instability as ongoing challenge' to place integration.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a theoretical model for understanding place integration in aging-in-place settings.
• Findings have implications for both gerontological theory and policy development for ADCs and ALRs.
• Emphasizes the dynamic and challenging nature of achieving a sense of home and community in later life.