Environmental Gerontology

This paper reconsiders the existing conceptual frameworks and models in environmental gerontology and takes a step forward towards a comprehensive and integrative understanding of person-environment (P-E) exchange processes in later life.

After briefly reviewing key existing models and important developments in the field, we move forward towards conceptual optimization and specification emphasizing on the processes of P-E exchange, outcomes of these processes and consideration of time, illustrated with three scenarios. The paper concludes with an outlook on future directions.

The conceptual framework presented here advances previous theoretical work in P-E exchange in later life by incorporating the constructs of agency and belonging representing the processes, identity and autonomy as outcomes and linking them with the primary components, i.e. individual, social, built environmental and technological factors. Case studies of older adults' representing a range of functional status in multiple settings illustrate the application of the conceptual framework's key components. The framework also explicitly addresses the relevance of the temporal aspect in P-E exchange.

Studies on the relationship between behavioral competence, such as the competence of exerting out-of-home behavior (OOHB), and well-being in older adults have rarely addressed cognitive status as a potentially moderating factor. We included 35 persons with early-stage dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT), 76 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 146 cognitively healthy (CH) study participants (grand mean age: M = 72.9 years; SD = 6.4 years). OOHB indicators were assessed based on a multi-method assessment strategy, using both GPS (global positioning system) tracking technology and structured self-reports. Environmental mastery and positive as well as negative affect served as well-being indicators and were assessed by established questionnaires. Three theoretically postulated OOHB dimensions of different complexity (out-of-home walking behavior, global out-of-home mobility, and out-of-home activities) were supported by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). We also found in the DAT group that environmental mastery was substantially and positively related to less complex out-of-home walking behavior, which was not the case in MCI and CH individuals. In contrast, more complex out-of-home activities were associated with higher negative affect in the DAT as well as the MCI group, but not in CH persons. These findings point to the possibility that relationships between OOHB and well-being depend on the congruence between available cognitive resources and the complexity of the OOHB dimension considered.

Well-designed housing is recognised as being an important factor in promoting a good quality of life. Specialised housing models incorporating care services, such as extra care housing (ECH) schemes are seen as enabling older people to maintain a good quality of life despite increasing health problems that can accompany ageing. Despite the variation in ECH building design little is known about the impact of ECH building design on the quality of life of building users. The evaluation of older people’s living environments (EVOLVE) study collected cross-sectional data on building design and quality of life in 23 ECH schemes in England, UK. Residents’ quality of life was assessed using the schedule for the evaluation of individual quality of life-direct weighting (SEIQoL-DW) and on the four domains of control, autonomy, self-realisation and pleasure on the CASP-19. Building design was measured on 12 user-related domains by means of a new tool; the EVOLVE tool. Using multilevel linear regression, significant associations were found between several aspects of building design and quality of life. Furthermore, there was evidence that the relationship between building design and quality of life was partly mediated by the dependency of participants and scheme size (number of living units). Our findings suggest that good quality building design in ECH can support the quality of life of residents, but that designing features that support the needs of both relatively independent and frail users is problematic, with the needs of highly dependent users not currently supported as well as could be hoped by ECH schemes.

This article aims to provide an overview of issues and developments in ageing and housing in Western societies – particularly North America, Europe, and Australia. We aim to demonstrate the centrality of population ageing and cohort succession for understanding the operation and long-term change of housing markets as well as the consequences of housing for ageing individuals’ wealth and social inequalities. We also present new understandings on the meaning and use of home and neighbourhoods for older individuals. Interrelationships between ageing, health, and housing are shown to have significant implications for the independence, safety, and participation of older people, while housing costs and wealth have a significant bearing on financial well-being. ‘Ageing in place’ including home modification and moves to more or less appropriate housing are major processes of adaptation to age-related changes. Providing supportive environments can enable vulnerable older people to maintain their independence and well-being with less of the expense or demoralising dependency involved in receiving services.