Aging with health: aging in place strategies of a Portuguese population aged 65 years or older

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

To identify the strategies developed by people in the aging process to keep living in their own home, despite the weaknesses and difficulties they face.

METHODS:

The research was carried out based on a survey of population aged 65 years or older in the Portuguese municipality of Portimão. Data were collected by questionnaire, in 2017, and submitted to statistical and content analysis.

RESULTS:

Most respondents own their household, where they feel safe and satisfied, and they show awareness and concern about the changes they have to make in their home to stay there. In addition to housing and livability conditions, health, economic resources, social network, and available services play a major role in the community.

CONCLUSIONS:

We identified several strategies used by older adults to stay in their households as they age and the ways they mobilize their available resources, as well as constraints of aging in place.

DESCRIPTORS:
Ageing in Place; Housing; Residence Characteristics; Independent Living