Perceptions of Livability of City-Dwelling Residents as They Age

Abstract

Date Presented 04/04/19

The study identified perceptions of livability among New Haven, CT, city-dwelling residents as they age. Five emerging themes resulted from the initial domains discussed, including accessibility, affordability, social opportunity, stigma, and future planning. Implications include opportunities for consultative services and advocacy with both residents and local town officials to eliminate barriers and optimize strengths of a community's livability.

Primary Author and Speaker: Erica DeFrancesco

Additional Authors and Speakers: Amber Gianni, Samantha Hilse, Julia Manzi, Meghan Sheridan

The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of livability among city-dwelling older adults as they age. By 2030, it is estimated that nearly 20% of the U.S population will be age 65-years-old and older (U.S. Census Bureau, 2014). The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) conducted a survey of Connecticut residents indicating that 66% of the participants reported if assistance were needed, they would prefer to stay home with assistance within their community (Burton, 2014). With such a rapidly growing rate of older adults, it is important to consider livable communities that promote independent living in people of all ages, particularly adults and older adults (Bass, Crowley, & Slater, 2016).

Affordability of healthcare costs for nursing facilities and assisted living facilities pose an issue for many adults and older adults depending on geographical location (Senior Housing 101, 2015). Senior Housing 101 (2015) reported that assisted living facilities averaged between $2,500-$4,000 per month, depending on size of apartment and level of assist needed. Nursing homes averaged at $4,000-$8,000 per month, and if memory support for dementia and Alzheimer’s care were needed then the price could be higher (Senior Housing 101, 2015). In comparison to those prices, home care averages out between twenty to forty dollars per hour, depending on how much care is needed and what is required of the person providing care (Senior Housing 101, 2015).

The study was structured off of AARP's eight domains of livability: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community and health services (AARP, n.d.). These domains laid the foundation for the development of semi-structured interviews, conducted with five city-dwelling females residing in New Haven, Connecticut, aged 60-years-old and older. Interviewees commented on perceived facilitators and barriers to New Haven’s livability. Investigators conducted pilot interviews which were then analyzed and utilized to create the final version of the interview questions. Recruitment involved a partnership with the Connecticut Chapter of AARP. Non-probability, convenience sampling was utilized to recruit participants.

Each interview was then transcribed and coded. The interviews were analyzed using a qualitative research design. Both a priori and emergent codes were utilized, which ultimately resulted in 5 underlying themes, including accessibility, affordability, stigma, social opportunity, and future planning within the community. Additionally, two sub-themes, including safety and ageism, were identified across multiple themes.

Future implications of this study include opportunities for consultative services and advocacy in collaboration with local community organizations such as AARP and residents to address and improve identified barriers with town officials. All 8 domains of livability relate to occupational therapy’s scope of practice. Furthermore, emergent themes seen in the study directly correlate to occupational therapy’s work with clients. Future research can be done with partnerships between occupational therapists and organizations to investigate livability components and create livable communities nationally.

References

Bass, J. D., Crowley, S., & Slater, D. (2016). AOTA's societal statement on livable communities. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 70 doi:10.5014/ajot.2009.63.6.847

Burton, C. (2014). Road to livability: 2014 AARP survey of Connecticut residents age 40+ [PDF file]. AARP. Retrieved from: http://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/research/surveys_statistics/general/2014/Road-to-Livability-2014-AARP-Survey-of-Connecticut-Residents-Age-40-Plus-AARP-res-gen.pdf

Shank, K. & Cutchin, M. (2016). Processes of developing ‘community livability’ in older age. Journal of Aging studies (39), 66-72. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2016.11.001