Negotiating and effectuating relocation to sheltered housing in old age: a Swedish study over 11 years

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore how very old people consider and arrive at decisions on relocation, with specific attention to housing and health relationships during the process of ageing. The sample included 13 very old participants of an 11-year longitudinal study of relationships between housing and health. Applying a mixed-methods approach, data from qualitative interviews and quantitative survey data from three data collection waves were utilised. The quantitative data were interwoven with the qualitative findings into a coherent body of text. The core theme "Negotiating and effectuating relocation is a long process" indicates a non-linear process consisting of five phases constituting the main categories of our findings. In the first phase, some informants considered relocation while others avoided thinking about it. Next, relations between health and home changed and led to turning points triggering relocation, i.e. when dependence in everyday activities reached critical points or when sudden illness forced an involuntary move. In the third phase, once the decision to relocate was made it was set in stone by the individual, but often questioned by the authorities, leading to a situation causing much frustration. While waiting for the relocation, doubts as well as expectations about the new home were expressed. Finally, even though the actual move caused different feelings, it was most often a positive experience and resulted in subjective health improvement and increased social contacts. The results can be used for the development of positive, proactive strategies for improved housing provision along the ageing process.

The importance of successful place integration for perceived health in very old age: a qualitative meta-synthesis

“…Further, turning-points are always related to some sort of health issue even though it is expressed in for example terms of social events or environmental change. points was identified is a recent study on relocation in old age (Nygren and Iwarsson 2009), indicating the validity of our finding as an important mechanism along the process of ageing.…”

Relocation to ordinary or special housing in very old age: aspects of housing and health

“…Even if we cannot state anything about the decision process based on the current study, according to previous research (Nygren and Iwarsson 2009), arriving at the decision to move is a long process of negotiations with family and friends. Alternatively, a move can occur involuntarily and abruptly after a hospital visit (Bekhet et al 2008).…”

“…Since these services are financed by taxes and available to all citizens, most people who want to stay put despite poor health status and dependence on help can do so. Secondly, the needs-based assessment required for a move to special housing most likely influence how people reason around the potentials and challenges coming with the decision process (Nygren and Iwarsson 2009). In contrast to the possibilities described, based on the needs assessment people who want to move can be refused to do so.…”

Discharge‐planning for long‐term care needs: the values and priorities of older people, their younger relatives and health professionals

“…Psychologically, elders may have distanced this by highlighting individual differences and her relative incapacity. Nygren and Iwarsson (16) described a similar cognitive strategy as ‘benchmarking... relocation did not have to be considered as long as their situation did not become as bad as that of other persons of their age they knew of’ (p. 183). Unlike the other stakeholders, elders were being asked about someone uncomfortably like themselves, so the questions may have held deeper and more personal meanings for them.…”