Moving Beyond 'Aging In Place' to Understand Migration and Aging: Place Making and the Centrality Of Occupation

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Occupational Science
• Sociology of Migration

Background:

• The dominant 'aging in place' framework lacks dynamic understanding of place and migration.
• Contemporary societies exhibit increased global mobility, challenging traditional aging concepts.
• Existing models inadequately address the diverse experiences of aging individuals in a globalized world.

Purpose of the Study:

• Critically examine the limitations of 'aging in place' in the context of migration.
• Introduce 'place-making' as a more dynamic conceptual tool.
• Explore how occupation facilitates negotiation of connections between people and diverse global places.

Main Methods:

• Critical analysis of the 'aging in place' concept.
• Integration of migration and place theories within occupational science.
• Conceptual exploration of 'place-making' through occupation.

Main Results:

• 'Aging in place' is an insufficient model for understanding aging in a migratory context.
• 'Place-making' provides a dynamic framework for analyzing occupation and place relationships.
• Occupation is central to negotiating global connections and embedding relations within daily life.

Conclusions:

• Rethinking place is crucial for understanding contemporary aging experiences.
• Place-making, through occupation, enables negotiation of diverse global connections.
• Future research should focus on the dynamic interplay of occupation, place, and migration in aging.