Cherished possessions, home-making practices and aging in care homes in Kerala, India

Blurring the boundaries of home: Community eldercare centres as institutional homes in urban China

“…Research on aging in place tends to regard home and community as distinct from one another. The body of work on home focuses on the materiality of home and related home‐making processes (Pazhoothundathil & Bailey, 2020; Pilkey, 2014; Tarrant, 2016; Walsh, 2018), while work on communities highlights place‐making within the neighbourhood (Lager et al, 2019), meaning‐making and sense of belonging through civic engagement and empowerment (Cutchin, 2003; Greenfield, 2012).…”

Ageing in Care Homes

“…As old age is connected with lower energy levels (Lager, van Hoven, & Huigen, 2016), the place-making process of older adults is more or less limited to care homes and the surrounding environment. Homemaking practices help older adults bring normalcy into their lives (Pazhoothundathil & Bailey, 2020;Meijering, Nanninga, & Lettinga, 2016). Our study explores the homemaking activities of older adults in care homes including those carried out through domestic activities; caregiving; kinning relations; and the celebration of festivals.…”

“…Cooking and eating together create commensality (Fischler, 2011) which helps to build a sense of family togetherness among older adults. Daily ritual practices, such as praying together during auspicious occasions, helps to create a sacred ambience and ethos in care homes (Pazhoothundathil & Bailey, 2020;Mazumdar and Mazumdar, 2009;Sahney, 2017). Individual practices include walking around care home premises; collecting materials for dayto-day usage; cleaning premises; and caring for animals.…”

“…Various studies emphasize the importance of possessions in later life in promoting a sense of continuity, comfort, and security (Coleman & Wiles, 2020;Cooney, 2012;Meijering & Lager, 2014;Pazhoothundathil & Bailey, 2020;Sherman & Dacher, 2005;Stevens, Camic, & Solway, 2019). According to Seo & Mazumdar (2011), the use of cherished possessions is culturally embedded.…”

“…For example, when an older adult moves to an institutional care setting, the physical and social characteristics of the institution could be totally new and different from pre-institutional life; different strategies are used to adjust to a new living situation and space. Older adults may retain possessions (Pazhoothundathil & Bailey, 2020) or replicate domestic activities to create a sense of home.…”