Factors Associated with Aging in Place among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Korea: Findings from a National Survey

Abstract

Ever since baby boomers started turning 65 years old in 2020, Korea is set to become a super-aged society by 2025. This makes it the world’s fastest-aging society. Aging in place (AIP) has become a policy direction to prepare for an aging society and improve older adults’ quality of life. It refers to the ability of older adults to remain in their homes and communities as they age, allowing them to reside in their place of preference and access the services they require to promote their quality of life. A cross-sectional study design was employed using data sampled from the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans. In total, 9930 older adults (aged between 65 and 99 years old) participated. The results confirmed that the intention to pursue AIP is related to personal factors (education, income, house ownership, smoking, exercise, depression), interpersonal and communal factors (unmet healthcare needs, need for home care services, family contact), and policy level factors (basic pension beneficiary, long-term care services) using an ecological model. The findings may promote individual health behaviors and help fill the gap between unmet healthcare needs and community care services that positively influence older adults’ AIP.

Aging in Place in Hong Kong and Its Implications for Sustainable Development: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Needs, Beliefs, Behaviors, and Well-Being of Older Adults through Self-Determination Theory and Social Cognitive Theory

“…Solutions such as adapting public housing to facilitate AIP, increasing financial assistance and subsidies, and providing door-to-door escorted transportation and outreach services will enable more elders to age in place. These findings align with existing research that identifies similar practical challenges commonly observed in AIP studies, especially in densely populated Asian regions that lack social security systems with generous protections and benefits [61,62]. As a matter of fact, these challenges are directly relevant to several Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which advocates for accessible transport and affordable housing; SDG 1 (No Poverty), which includes initiatives related to financial assistance, poverty prevention, and pension schemes; and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), which emphasizes social protection and participation [63].…”

Aging in Place for Community-Dwelling Older Adults in India: A Qualitative Exploration of Prospects and Challenges

“…Common determinants include freedom, autonomy, and social connectedness ( Ratnayake et al, 2022 ). Aging in place is associated with a sense of identity, attachment, social connection, familiarity, and security ( Cho & Kwon, 2023 ; Wiles et al, 2012 ) corroborated in this study. A social motive that is explicitly found in this study is the societal expectation of children to take care of their parents in old age, which is uncommon in western countries and has been less reported in studies.…”

Effect of Trunk Posture on Peak Systolic Flow Velocity, Pulsatility Index, and Rate of Perceived Exertion of Common Carotid Artery during Recumbent Cycle Exercise

“…In 2025, South Korea is entering an ultra-aged society where the elderly population comprises over 25% of the total population. 1 Major health threats to the elderly include chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and arthritis, as well as cognitive impairments like dementia and depression. 2 Among these, dementia stands out as a debilitating condition, primarily afflicting the elderly.…”