Neighborhood Support and Aging-in-Place Preference Among Low-Income Elderly Chinese City-Dwellers.
OBJECTIVE
Preferences for aging-in-place are unclear among low-income elderly Chinese city-dwellers, who are more likely to be geographically bound, to have little care support, but possess strong filial values and family cohesiveness. This study investigated the preferences for aging-in-place and its contributing neighborhood factors among low-income Chinese elderly in a metropolitan city.


METHODS
We conducted interviews with 400 older people residing in public housing estates in Hong Kong.


RESULTS
The majority of low-income elderly persons (80.4%) prefer to age in place even if their health and functioning has deteriorated beyond independent living. Logistic regression showed that (a) having very low income (<HK$2,000/month) and not receiving means-tested welfare predicted lower preference for this option [odd ratios (OR) = 0.27]; and (b) having medical facilities within reach (OR =9.02); and (c) an elderly center in the area (OR = 2.98) were associated with a preference for aging in place, after controlling for demographic, and functioning characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-income elderly Chinese city-dwellers prefer to age in place, given appropriate neighborhood support. These findings can be interpreted in light of Lawton's ecological theory of aging and suggest a service model similar to the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community with Supportive Service Programs.
Department of Social Work and Social Administration and Sau Po Center on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. tlum@hku.hk.
Terry Y S
TY
Lum
Department of Social Work and Social Administration and Sau Po Center on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Vivian W Q
VW
Lou
Department of Social Work, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Yanyan
Y
Chen
Sau Po Center on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Gloria H Y
GH
Wong
Sau Po Center on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Hao
H
Luo
Sau Po Center on Ageing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Tracy L W
TL
Tong
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012944:Social Support; D014505:Urban Population
Aging in place; Community support; Low-income Elders; Neighborhood; Social support.