Intergenerational Perspectives on Autonomy Following a Transition to a Continuing Care Retirement Community.
The study evaluated the concept of autonomy from the perspective of older adults and their adult children following a transition of the older adult to a continuing care retirement community (CCRC). Overall, 70 interviews (with older adults and their adult children; 34 dyads) were analyzed, using a line-by-line open coding, followed by dyadic analysis. Autonomy was not portrayed as a uniform, homogenous construct, but rather encompassed four different domains: (a) the focus of one's attention or concerns: on others, on self, or not at all; (b) the ability to exercise decisions and make independent choices; (c) the degree of physical functioning and ability of the older adult; and (d) the financial ability of the older adult. The duality in the relationships between older adults and their adult children is discussed in relation to the give and take of autonomy that occur following a transition to a CCRC.
Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel liat.ayalon@biu.ac.il.
Liat
L
Ayalon
D032721:Adult Children; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016852:Housing for the Elderly; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012179:Retirement
caregiving; continuing care retirement community; formal; independence; informal; intergenerational; long-term care; solidarity; transitions