Aging in the Right Place

ISBN-13: 9781938870330 / Angielski / Miękka / 2015 / 416 str.

Stephen M. Golant

Opis

This book analyzes how residential environments influence the physical and psychological well-being of older adults, often determining their quality of life and successful aging. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the complex factors that influence the present and future types of living arrangements among which seniors can choose. Stephen Golant, a widely recognized authority on the subject, focuses particularly on the oft-neglected aspect of older adults' emotional, subjective experiences of home--how their unique memories and associations with their homes, belongings, and closeness to friends and neighbors substantially influence their residential choice. The book contrasts the desire for comfort in a home environment with the mastery that comes from feeling competent and in control in the face of age-related losses due to poor health, restricted mobility, and reduced social supports. The book introduces an innovative concept called -residential normalcy- to use in evaluating how well seniors' residential options fit their needs and preferences. The book takes a hard look at the pros and cons of the popular trend of -aging in place.- It considers the efficacy of personal (e.g., family) and community-based services in supporting elders to age in place, the practicalities of new technologies, and the impact of economics and policymaking on individual choices. It contrasts these with the continuing emergence of more customized elder care settings, including assisted living, continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), and co-housing, as alternative living environments for frail elders.