title: Residential normalcy and environmental experiences of very old people: changes in residential reasoning over time.
abstract: The decision to relocate in old age is intricately linked to thoughts and desires to stay put. However, most research focuses either on strategies that allow people to age in place or on their reasons for relocation. There is a need for more knowledge on very old peoples' residential reasoning, including thoughts about aging in place and thoughts about relocation as one intertwined process evolving in everyday life. The aim of this study was to explore what we refer to as the process of residential reasoning and how it changes over time among very old people, and to contribute to the theoretical development regarding aging in place and relocation. Taking a longitudinal perspective, data stem from the ENABLE-AGE In-depth Study, with interviews conducted in 2003 followed up in interviews in 2011. The 16 participants of the present study were 80-89years at the time of the first interview. During analysis the Theoretical Model of Residential Normalcy by Golant and the Life Course Model of Environmental Experience by Rowles & Watkins were used as sensitizing concepts. The findings revealed changes in the process of residential reasoning that related to a wide variety of issues. Such issues included the way very old people use their environmental experience, their striving to build upon or dismiss attachment to place, and their attempts to maintain or regain residential normalcy during years of declining health and loss of independence. In addition, the changes in reasoning were related to end-of-life issues. The findings contribute to the theoretical discussion on aging in place, relocation as a coping strategy, and reattachment after moving in very old age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden. Electronic address: marianne.granbom@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Granbom
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Ageing Research, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Grueneburgplatz 1, D-60323 Frankfurt, Germany. Electronic address: himmelsbach@em.uni-frankfurt.de.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Himmelsbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden. Electronic address: maria.haak@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haak
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden. Electronic address: charlotte.lofqvist@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Löfqvist
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Ageing Research, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Grueneburgplatz 1, D-60323 Frankfurt, Germany. Electronic address: oswald@em.uni-frankfurt.de.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oswald
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden. Electronic address: susanne.iwarsson@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwarsson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology; D016852:Housing for the Elderly; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000523:psychology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D057567:Memory, Long-Term; D009769:Object Attachment; D061214:Patient Safety; D018907:Privacy / Q000523:psychology; D012929:Psychological Distance; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities; D012931:Social Environment; D013548:Sweden
keywords: Aging-in-place; ENABLE-AGE; Housing; Longitudinal; Relocation; Sensitizing concepts