The Importance of Place Attachment in the Understanding of Ageing in Place: “The Stones Know Me”

Abstract

As academic literature has shown, there is a preference among older adults to experience old age independently, in their own homes, giving shape to what has been called ageing in place. This phenomenon links residence, life cycle, and the experience of old age. Although it depends on many factors (housing characteristics, the elderly’s economy, or their social support, among others) it is based on place attachment as a key aspect, which comprises two different but interwoven dimensions: the home (private space) and the neighbourhood (social space), understood as an extended sphere of the home. Despite its importance, and beyond the consensus that the time spent in a place increases attachment to it, the processes whereby place attachment is constructed by the elderly and the role of the experience of neighbourhood are little known. This article intended to delve into the meaning of place attachment, its importance, and how it is built by the elderly population in urban areas. For this purpose, a qualitative study was conducted in Spain, selecting Madrid (the biggest city in the country) as a case study of how place attachment is shaped in an urban setting. To obtain in-depth information, data were collected through ethnographic interviews with 37 people aged 65–95 and 1 focus group among elderly aged 65–71. The most relevant finding of the qualitative analysis is the emotional significance of attachment to the local space as an element that enables continuity—as opposed to the rupture to which we associate old age- in the experience of the life cycle of the elderly. It should be noted that some of the results are conditioned by the specificities of Spanish society, particularly with regard to family ties. Potential extrapolations to other realities should take this point into account.

Decoding emotional resilience in aging: unveiling the interplay between daily functioning and emotional health

“…As for other covariates such as residence and education level in this study, their definitions cannot be simply delineated through basic demographic characteristics and Pearson correlation analysis. These factors, as potential influencers of EPs, may require joint analysis with various socio-economic factors such as offspring support, retirement pensions, family migration, childhood experiences, etc., to derive more scientifically sound conclusions ( 53 ).…”

Factors Affecting Place Attachment and Types of Living ArrangementPreferences for Ageing-In-Place of the Malaysian GenerationalHousing Consumers in Malaysia

“…The decision has further resulted in the younger generation choosing the urban and suburban areas for their future decision of ageing-in-place. Growing old in familiar surroundings intervened by place attachment plays a fundamental role, embedded in the identity and security offered by the home and familiar surroundings, but, above all, it symbolises the capacity for independence and autonomy (Lebrusán & Gómez, 2022). 'Place identity', 'sense of belonging' and 'social bonding' were the most critical indicators for place attachment (Gokce & Chen, 2021).…”

“…Although ageing in place connects to many factors, such as housing characteristics, the elderly's economy, or their social support, among others, it is based on place attachment as a critical aspect, which in the urban realm comprises two different but interwoven dimensions: the home (private space) and the neighbourhood (social space), which is understood as an extended sphere of the home (Lebrusán & Gómez, 2022). People in their sixties and seventies are typically in healthy condition, and most of them prefers to continue to live independently (Stones & Gullifer, 2016).…”

Place Attachment and Aging in Place: Preferences and Disruptions

“…Thus, over time, the concept of aging in ‘place’ has evolved from a focus on ‘dwelling’ attachment to include an attachment to ‘place’ that involves the wider local community ( Thomas & Blanchard, 2009 ). In a similar vein, Lebrusán and Gómez (2022) posit that place attachment comprises both the home representing one’s private space and the neighborhood representing one’s social space as an extension of the home. The importance of place attachment as local community attachment for older populations is further intensified by a rise in the number of single older persons living alone.…”

“…However, Ahn (2017) argues that the conceptual foundation of the idea of aging in place has not been thoroughly investigated. Lebrusán and Gómez (2022 , p. 1) state that “despite its importance, and beyond the consensus that the time spent in a place increases attachment to it, the processes whereby place attachment is constructed by the elderly and the role of the experience of neighborhood are little known”.…”