Developing an aging in place model for low income elderly households

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Most older adults want to stay in their own homes, own community where they live while they age. However, older people in low income community are more likely to be admitted in nursing home. The goals of this study is (1) to understand the service needs of older people living in low income rental estates; and (2) to understand factors associated with the aging-in-place preference of older people in low income naturally occurring retirement communities. METHOD: Respondents of this study came from four low income public rental estates. We conducted 9 focus group interviews with residents, their services providers, and property management staff of these states. We also conducted face-to-face interview with 400 older residents in these estates. RESULTS: Older people who reported a neighbour support network were 6.26 times more likely to prefer staying in the community and those who had received support from family member living together were 3.1 times more like to prefer staying in the community. Respondents who lived in an estate that had an elderly center were 2.75 times more likely to prefer staying in the community than those who lived in an estate that did not have an elderly centre. CONCLUSION: A strong neighbour support network and a nearby elderly center are positively associated with older people’s willingness to stay in their community as they are. A new AIP services model was developed based on these findings to promote aging in place for frail low income elders in Hong Kong.