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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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'Option recognition' in later life
— variations in ageing in place | | Author(s) | Sheila Peace, Caroline Holland, Leonie Kellaher |
| Journal title | Ageing and Society, vol 31, part 5, July 2011 |
| Pages | pp 734-757 |
| Source | http://www.journals.cambridge.org/aso |
| Keywords | Ageing process ; Physical environment ; Quality of life ; Independence ; Mobility ; Competence ; Adjustment ; Adaption. |
| Annotation | The person-environment system is fundamental to defining the quality of life in older people - the more competent the person the less dependent they are on environmental circumstances. While this focuses on the micro-environment of accommodation, it can be applied to the macro-environment of community living. This paper, using data gathered from 54 ethnically diverse participants in England, examines both the micro and macro scales. It develops the theoretical content of the person-competence model and considers the complexity of person-environment interaction. The paper suggests that, over time, some people find that their attachments to particular environments are compromised by declining competence or changes in the environment. Findings suggest that the point at which change impacts on an individual's independence and well-being is reached when adaptive behaviour cannot rebalance the macro- and micro-environmental scale. This point, termed `option recognition', leads to a range of personal responses including the modification of behaviour or environment, seeking structural support using formal and informal services, and potentially relocation. In conclusion, `option recognition' sets out to capture the extent of environmental impact that can affect decision-making in older people, and point to the importance of both change and continuity in the environment. (JL). |
| Accession Number | CPA-110721002 A |
| Classmark | BG: R: F:59: C3: C4: DPB: DR: 5SA |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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