Abstract:

Presents findings from the study "Options and Preferences: Older Frail Pensioners and their Housing." The study was commissioned by the Ministerial Advisory Council on Housing Access and funded by the Australian Minister for Housing and Aged Care in 1989. The study examined the housing and neighborhood aspects of coping with frailty in old age. In-depth interviews were conducted with 62 frail older pensioners in various housing situations in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Interviewees were asked to talk about the meaning of their housing, its influence on their independence and quality of life, and actions they had taken to improve their living circumstances. An overview is provided of the characteristics of older Australians and their housing in the recent past and projections for the future. Five case studies illustrate the complex individual actions and situations that are obscured by summary statistics and standardized policies, showing how older people experience their homes in terms that extend far beyond accommodation. Each case emphasizes the value of policies that respond flexibly to each individual's situation and preferences. Discussion focuses on the special meaning of home for older people, gardening as a major source of joy for older people, home maintenance and the main problem of finding helpers or tradespeople to perform work at a reasonable cost, household management, physical problems that emerge with aging, aging in place versus moving to other housing, transportation issues, and the reliance of many older people on multiple sources of support to help them continue living independently. Findings challenge assumptions that older people "underutilize" housing. References and a statistical profile of respondents are included.