'Possibilities and challenges for older couples to continue ageing in place'

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Ageing in place is a growing concern for older adults and communities.
• Support systems are needed to address the challenges of ageing in place for couples.
• Understanding the perspectives of various stakeholders is crucial for effective support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and describe the experiences and reasoning of spousal carers, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders.
• To identify possibilities and challenges for older couples to age in place.
• To inform strategies for facilitating successful ageing in place.

Main Methods:

• Focus groups with 46 participants.
• Constant comparative methodology.
• Qualitative data analysis of experiences and reasoning.

Main Results:

• Facilitating ageing in place is a win-win situation with challenges.
• Key themes include focusing on couples' relationships and services, engaged civil society, motivated professionals, and collaborative services.
• Success depends on balancing individual, couple, societal, and systemic factors.

Conclusions:

• Ageing in place is possible but complex, requiring a holistic approach.
• Consideration of individual, couple, civil society, service, and organizational contexts is essential.
• Balancing these factors contributes to older couples' well-being and societal sustainability.