Intergenerational Understandings of Ageing in Place: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Study

Population ageing poses global challenges, positioning Ageing in Place (AIP) as a preferred strategy to support ageing in later life. In the Chinese context, the role of adult children in supporting AIP is particularly salient due to the cultural value of filial piety. However, limited research has examined how AIP is experienced and interpreted by both older adults and adult children within this cultural framework. This study aims to explore and compare the lived experiences of older adults and adult children in relation to AIP in urban China, with a particular focus on intergenerational understandings of AIP. This study adopted an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. Purposive sampling was used to recruit older adults and adult children in Changsha, China. Data were collected through photo elicitation and semi-structured interviews with nine older adults, and semi-structured interviews with eight adult children. Findings reveal three key themes: (1) motivations and intentions to support AIP; (2) making sense of spatial separation in AIP; and (3) needing more healthcare support from communities. Both older adults and adult children demonstrated shared and diverse interpretations of AIP. The findings reveal nuanced needs, meanings, and challenges that are often overlooked in policy discourse and everyday care practices regarding AIP. Overall, the study calls for a more holistic and intergenerational rethinking of AIP beyond Western-centric frameworks, highlighting the importance of aligning policy and practice with the lived realities of families navigating AIP in diverse socio-cultural contexts.