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The ideal neighbourhood for ageing in place as perceived by frail and non-frail community-dwelling older people

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2014

HANNA M. VAN DIJK ,
JANE M. CRAMM ,
JOB VAN EXEL  and
ANNA P. NIEBOER
HANNA M. VAN DIJK*
Affiliation:
Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
JANE M. CRAMM
Affiliation:
Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
JOB VAN EXEL
Affiliation:
Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
ANNA P. NIEBOER
Affiliation:
Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
*
Address for correspondence: Hanna M. van Dijk, Institute of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: hanna.vandijk@bmg.eur.nl
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Abstract

Due to demographic changes and a widely supported policy of ageing in place, the number of community-dwelling older people will increase immensely. Thus, supportive neighbourhoods enabling older people to age in place successfully are required. Using Q-methodology, we examined older people's perceptions of the comparative importance of neighbourhood characteristics for ageing in place. Based on the World Health Organization's Global Age-friendly Cities guide, we developed 26 statements about physical and social neighbourhood characteristics. Thirty-two older people in Rotterdam, half of whom were frail, rank-ordered these statements. Q-factor analysis revealed three distinct viewpoints each among frail and non-frail older people. Comparisons within and between groups are discussed. Although both frail and non-frail older people strongly desired a neighbourhood enabling them to age in place, they have divergent views on such a neighbourhood. Older people's dependence on the neighbourhood seems to be dynamic, affected by changing social and physical conditions and levels of frailty.

Keywords

ageing in placeneighbourhoodfrailtycommunity-dwelling older peopleQ-methodologyThe Netherlands
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 35 , Issue 8 , September 2015 , pp. 1771 - 1795
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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