Anticipating ageing: interviews on home experiences in Belgium

Abstract

The ageing population is recognized to be a very diverse group, ranging from economically powerful baby-boomers, to over-75 people with a migration background and centenarians with high care and support needs. Planning for the housing situation of this diverse ageing population is a key challenge in many European countries. The home environment can be considered as the most significant place when ageing, as it offers a place of support but also the link between one's dwelling, wellbeing and identity. Although many people express the wish to age in place, others decide to relocate. Moving towards more traditional housing options such as a smaller apartment (with or without care services) or residential care facilities happens most often, but in past decennia interest has raised for more innovative housing formulas (e.g. cohousing). To increase our understanding of housing choices made in later life and to contribute to knowledge on housing-expectations, experiences and preferences of older people, three linked studies will explore older people's past, present and future housing choices. First, Schaff and colleagues present research on how older people who have already anticipated their housing situation for later life, reflect on their decision-making process and current home experience. Second, Phlix and colleagues explore ageing migrants' sense of home. A third paper by Smetcoren and colleagues discusses expectations and experiences of older adults, involved in developing a cohousing project. Finally, Ann Petermans will summarize and link the main messages of these papers, which is followed by some critical questions to discuss with the audience. Although a majority of older people favor "ageing in place", few of them effectively anticipate the ageing process and the associated changes this can bring about in their daily lives and experiences of home. In parallel, research now also shows a strong need to diversify housing possibilities for ageing. In that regard, one might ask what alternatives are being developed today to allow older people to age well in their homes and how these are experienced. To gain insights on this issue, we conducted interviews with (future) older people (55+) who have already undertaken a housing initiative by moving or transforming their dwelling with the aim of "ageing well at home", in Wallonia (Belgium). In particular, we sought to understand how the inhabitant-habitat relationship evolved over time and which elements of the environment had a particular impact on people's well-being. Three temporalities were thus explored: