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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Dominic Aitken, Allison Lawson
This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Wiley, 2019.
For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
A growing older population worldwide means there is a need to ensure there are sufficient housing options to meet a broad spectrum of need and aspiration. There is little understanding of the relative importance of the “pull factors” that might attract older people to relocate to a new environment. Older people's views of the relative level of attractiveness of potential features of a specialist housing development offering care and support were investigated using Q methodology. Forty‐one participants aged 53–89 living in a locality in Northern England rank‐ordered 70 statements from April to August 2016. The analysis revealed four viewpoints: adaptation and care seekers, comprising prioritisation of care provision, specialist accommodation and accessibility; care‐indifferent luxurians, which encompasses attraction to some “luxury” features and less emphasis on care provision; connected separatists, emphasising a distinct environment with good public transport connections; and independent engagers, comprising attraction towards social opportunities and remaining independent. Broad agreement was found on some topics, such as the generally high prioritisation of safety and security. The research provides a deeper understanding of differences in views towards housing options among older people which developers, planners and funders will need to recognise. While providing high‐quality care may be a key objective for some organisations, this may not be the most important concern for some older people contemplating relocation, with many other features considered more attractive.
Author(s): Aitken D, Cook G, Lawson A
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Health and Social Care in the Community
Year: 2019
Volume: 27
Issue: 5
Pages: e769-e780
Print publication date: 01/09/2019
Online publication date: 25/06/2019
Acceptance date: 01/06/2019
Date deposited: 09/07/2019
ISSN (print): 0966-0410
ISSN (electronic): 1365-2524
Publisher: Wiley
URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12805
DOI: 10.1111/hsc.12805
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