Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Retirement, places of'

"Population aging" is a worldwide occurrence facing both developed and developing countries alike. In Canada, significant public policy issues arise with the increasing number and proportion of older persons. One of the most important of these is meeting the housing needs of the more than one million older persons facing housing decisions in the next three decades. The greatest challenge to all those involved in producing, financing or managing housing for older persons is to assist the majority of older persons in their desire to remain in the community as they age. The underlying premise of this explorative study is that older persons should and must be involved at all levels of planning current and future seniors' or retirement housing. The specific purpose of the thesis is to explore "collaborative planning" as a method of involving older persons in housing issues. The rationale for the participation of older persons is developed from the review of three areas of relevant literature. In contrast to the literature on "environment and aging" and gerontology, this study seeks an understanding of the broader social, political-economic forces as prerequisite to meaningful analysis of the lower levels of the housing context. This wider perspective also forms the basis for the rationale of including older persons in the planning process. A discussion of "participation" as a process and a movement provides an introduction to two case studies as examples of "collaborative planning" involving older persons and professionals in discussing seniors' or retirement housing. The thesis research question is: What do older persons view as their housing needs and preferences, and how successful is present seniors' or retirement housing in meeting these? The structure, format and objectives of the two case studies were framed within the thesis principles and assumptions in addition to this question. The case studies were assessed for their usefulness for defining housing needs and preferences of older persons, and for examining how closely these stated needs and preferences fit existing housing alternatives. The evaluation of the case studies revealed that collaborative planning took place, and that the stated objectives of each event and those of the sponsoring organization were met. The thesis assumptions and premises were thereby substantiated. The wide impact and numerous outcomes of the case studies within the seniors' communities were also noted. However, the research question was largely unanswered in terms of "product", and the analysis includes some possible explanations. Analysis of the case studies within the broader context indicated that older persons and professionals alike are in a "reactive" mode of thinking rather than creative or "proactive" in what they visualize as seniors' housing options. Entrenched thinking and attitudes are difficult to change, and as this study concludes, education of all involved is necessary. The greater necessity is, however, the need to personalize the issue of inadequate and unsuitable seniors' or retirement housing, so that change is seen as imperative to one's own future life as an older person.
Applied Science, Faculty of
Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of
Graduate

The problem that was chosen to be investigated, was that, within the white middle class South African white-collar worker there appears to be a tendency to live for the "pie in the sky" - which for most seems to be retirement to the idyllic cottage by the sea. Within the South African scenario, there seems to be a definite lack of career planning or at least planning for retirement, other than the financial emphasis. Upon reaching the "ultimate" retirement, retirees take their pension money and move to the coast, expecting pure bliss. The result of their lack of forethought is that they settle in a totally different climate, away from the support of family and friends, possibly finding their income inadequate, with the result that many fall seriously ill, and then discover a lack of geriatric care or a hospital at the time in their lives when they need it the most. The aim of the research was to investigate these issues using a specific location - Port Alfred, researching the fact that Port Alfred continues to be a retirement haven, despite appearing to lack the necessary facilities required by the elderly. The method of the research was to initially administer a pilot questionnaire to a few elderly residents at random, which was then followed up by the formal personally administered questionnaire to a sample. The sample of retired elderly residents in Port Alfred was chosen at random primarily from the various old age homes in Port Alfred. This questionnaire was administered in 1983 but due to financial and personal reasons, the results were not written up. In 1990, the research was continued with a further questionnaire being administered in 1991. The research direction was altered slightly to identify not only what resources were felt to be lacking, but also to identify how well the retired persons of Port Alfred had managed their transition to retirement. The results showed some similarity between the 1983 and the 1991 research. On the surface the retirees appeared well-adjusted and content, but when it was delved deeper, they appeared to have opted out of making any great effort to change their situation, but rather had taken the view that they had earned their rest, would make the best of what they had, and leave it to someone else to champion their cause. This meant that they relied heavily upon those in their community to meet their obvious needs. The promised hospital that they had arduously raised funds for had not materialised, and that seemed to have been the last effort that they had been prepared to make, they were now at rest. The conclusion was that, although the retirees had made the best of their situation, this definitely did not mean that their resources were adequate. Various charities and social services were at work in the community to redress the imbalance, but it was felt that these would in turn benefit by the addition of a social worker. This social worker would coordinate these services and take responsibility for the community at large, particularly addressing the need to unify the services with those to the large non-White community, in the (on-going) development of the New South Africa

In sparsely populated municipalities, there is a large increase of elderly people in relation to people of working age. This will entail a great need for housing for the elderly, and at the same time resources for the care of the elderly. The aim for this study is to examine how older people within Storuman-, Sorsele and Vilhelmina municipality perceive their current housing and other forms of housing for the future, and also to analyze how the housing demand is met now or in the plans for future development within the municipalities. Interviews have been conducted with both elderly but also with people who work with housing issues within the municipalities. There are incentives that the demand of shared housing will increase. The elderly feel a lack of meeting places and they prefer shared forms of housing over regular apartments. The municipalities have different challenges and different housing supply and therefore they have different approaches and plans to cope with the future housing demand for elderly.

Thesis (MSocialWork) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since 1988 it became practice for welfare organisations to submit an evaluation of their welfare programme as part of their application for state funding for the next year. Included in this evaluation is a section on the cost efficiency of the programme. After the first democratic election in 1994 a number of processes were started to develop new welfare policies for the country. In all of these processes cost efficiency is seen as a principle, but in spite of this, so it seems from the documents, is the evaluation of cost efficiency still a problem. The question therefore arises: What is the present status of the evaluation of the cost efficiency of social services after twelve years of program evaluation? Only a few studies on the methodology of the evaluation of cost efficiency within the South African context were found through the literature study. An exploratory study was therefore undertaken to determine what the reasons could be why so little progress was made with cost effiency evaluation. The empirical study focussed on residential facilities for older persons and was done within one welfare organisation in the Western- and Southern Cape. A sample of twenty managers was randomly selected and fifteen respondents returned the questionaire. It is a potential danger that managers of residential facilities for older persons could see the evaluation of the services rendered as just another administrative task, because of the very strong link between evaluation and the application for state funding. The researcher therefore wanted to ascertain what the attitude of the managers is towards the evaluation of their services, and especially the evaluation of the cost-efficiency thereof. It was found that the managers are positive towards program evaluation and the evaluation of cost efficiency, but the majority of them responded that the lack of guidelines and manuals is a deficiency. The lack of proper measuring instruments was also stressed. The research also shown that the managers conceptualize cost efficiency mainly in terms of costs and not as a relation between the outcomes of the programme and the costs thereof. The managers of residential facilities uses the evaluation document that was send out by the department, because it forms part of the application for state funding. This means that the level of program evaluation is actually determined by the department. It was found that this document focused mainly on the measuring of inputs and outputs and not so much of the evaluation of the outcomes of the programme. Based on the results of the study the researcher proposed guidelines to promote the evaluation of the cost efficiency of social services.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit is sedert 1988 praktyk dat vrywillige welsynsorganisasies jaarliks 'n evaluering van hulle maatskaplikewelsynsprogram moet indien as deel van die aansoek om staatsubsidie vir die volgende jaar. By hierdie evaluering van die maatskaplikewelsynsprogramme is die evaluering van die kostedoeltreffendheid van die program ingesluit. Na die eerste demokratiese verkiesing in 1994 het verskeie prosesse aan die gang gekom om nuwe maatskaplikewelsynsbeleid vir Suid-Afrika te ontwikkel. In al die dokumente wat deur die prosesse ontwikkel is, word die kostedoeltreffendheid van maatskaplikewelsynsdienste as 'n belangrike beginsel gestel. Tog blyk dit, uit die verslae van sommige van die prosesse, dat die evaluering van kostedoeltreffendheid 'n probleem blyk te wees. Die vraag ontstaan dan tereg: Wat is die huidige stand van die evaluering van die kostedoeltreffendheid van maatskaplikewelsynsprogramme twaalf jaar sedert die implementering van programevaluering? Uit die literatuurstudie het dit geblyk dat daar min studies in Suid-Afrika bestaan wat handel oor die metodiek van kostedoeltreffendheidsevaluering van maatskaplikewelsynsprogramme. Verkennende navorsing is onderneem om vas te stel waarom daar oënskynlik min vordering gemaak is met die evaluering van kostedoeltreffendheid van maatskaplikewelsynsprogramme. Die empiriese studie het gefokus op residensiële fasiliteite vir ouer persone en die navorsing is uitgevoer by een welsynsorganisasie in die Wes- en Suid-Kaap. 'n Steekproef van twintig bestuurders is op ewekansige wyse geselekteer en vyftien respondente het die vraelys teruggestuur. Die gevaar bestaan dat, vanweë die sterk verband tussen die evaluering van die program en die aansoek vir subsidie, die evaluering van die maatskaplikewelsynsprogram bloot net as nog 'n administratiewe taak gesien kan word. Daarom wou die navorser vasstel wat die bestuurders van residensiële versorgingsprogramme vir ouer persone se houding jeens programevaluering en die evaluering van die kostedoeltreffendheid van die program is. In die studie is bevind dat die bestuurders positief jeens programevaluering en die evaluering van die kostedoeltreffendheid van die programme is, maar die oorgrote meerderheid bestuurders het aangedui dat hulle dit as 'n leemte sien dat daar min riglyne of handleidings bestaan. Die gebrek aan meetinstrumente is ook beklemtoon. Uit die studie het dit verder geblyk dat die bestuurders die konsep kostedoeltreffendheid hoofsaaklik in terme van koste verstaan, en nie in terme van 'n verhouding van die uitkomste van die program tot die koste daarvan nie. Die bestuurders van residensiële fasiliteite voltooi jaarliks die evalueringsdokument van die betrokke staatsdepartement, omdat dit deel vorm van die aansoekprosedure vir staatsubsidie. Hierdie dokument bepaal derhalwe die vlak van programevaluering. Dit het uit die studie geblyk dat die dokument wat gebruik word grootliks fokus op die meting van insette en uitsette en nie soseer op die uitkomste van die welsynsprogramme nie. Gebaseer op die bevindinge van die navorsing is riglyne voorgestel wat sal meewerk om die evaluering van die kostedoeltreffendheid van maatskaplike dienste te bevorder.

Studies have supported the benefits of positive dietary behaviors in preventing or reducing morbidity and extending longevity, as well as the psychosocial function of dietary practices for quality of life. Research is needed though on the dietary behaviors of elders in general and older women in particular, for whom gender affects lifelong dietary patterns. Health behavior theory has typically focused on psychological factors, to the neglect of sociocultural processes. This investigation utilized a life course perspective, enhanced by social interactionist elements, to address aspects of development and change in behavior neglected by health behavior theories, such as temporal dimensions and social contexts. Using primarily an ethnographic approach centered on in-depth narrative interviews of 18 older women residing in a retirement community, this study explored how social milieu influences the development and progression of dietary behavior throughout life, the potential of life course transitions to modify dietary behavior, and how the retirement community environment shapes current dietary behavior. The interviews probed current dietary experiences and practices, as well as constructed histories of dietary behavior. Through the use of coding techniques and thematic analysis, themes and concepts that emerged from the data were organized for further analysis. Four levels of influence on dietary behavior were identified: 1) person factors, including psychological and physiological processes; 2) interpersonal relationships and social interaction; 3) social roles and statuses; and 4) contexts, particularly environmental, community policy and political economic contexts. Analysis additionally revealed four major food-related themes in the lives of the women: dietary morality, dietary wellness, dietary sociability and dietary duty. Interpretation of the findings, in terms of lifelong social experiences, the impact of relationships, roles and transitions, and structural characteristics of the retirement community that constrain or facilitate dietary practices, contributed to the development of a theoretical model. The research findings and model of life course influences on the nature of dietary behaviors of older women provide a more holistic understanding of dietary practices of older women and have implications for future research and practice, particularly as related to quality of life issues.

Mobility is central to living an independent life, to participating in society, and to maintaining well-being in later life. The point of departure in this thesis is that retirement implies changes in time-space use and interruption in routines, which influence demands and preconditions for mobility in different ways.  The aim of this thesis is to explore mobility strategies and changes in mobility upon retirement and how mobility develops during the first years of retirement. A further aim is to provide knowledge of the extent to which newly retired people maintain a desired mobility based on their needs and preconditions. The thesis is empirically based on travel diaries kept by newly retired people, and qualitative interviews with the same persons, and follow-up interviews three and a half years later. The results show that mobility is a way of forming a structure in the new everyday life as retirees by getting out of the house, either just for a walk or to do errands. Many patterns of everyday life remain the same upon retirement, but the informants also merge new responsibilities and seek new social arenas and activities. As a result, the importance of the car have not changed, but it is used for other reasons than before. After leaving paid work, new space-time constraints are created which influences demands for mobility. The study further shows that “third places” become important, especially among those who live alone, as they give an opportunity to being part of a social context and a reason for getting out of the house. The follow-up interviews revealed that declining health changes the preconditions for mobility. Daily walks had to be made shorter, and the car had to be used for most errands to where they previously could walk or cycle. However, mobility can also be maintained despite a serious illness and a long period of rehabilitation.
Mobilitet är en förutsättning för oberoende, delaktighet och välbefinnande när man åldras. Utgångspunkten i avhandlingen är att pensioneringen innebär tidsrumsliga förändringar och brott i rutiner som på olika sätt påverkar människors behov av att resa och deras förutsättningar för mobilitet. Syftet med avhandlingen är att utforska mobilitetsstrategier och förändringar i mobilitet i samband med pensioneringen samt hur mobiliteten utvecklas under de första åren som pensionär. Ambitionen är att öka kunskapen om i vilken utsträckning nya pensionärer upprätthåller en önskad mobilitet utifrån deras egna behov och förutsättningar. Avhandlingen baseras empiriskt på resedagböcker som nyblivna pensionärer har fört och kvalitativa intervjuer med samma personer, samt uppföljningsintervjuer tre och ett halvt år senare. Resultaten visar att mobiliteten är en strategi för att skapa en struktur i vardagen som pensionär genom att komma hemifrån, t.ex. för att ta en promenad eller för att uträtta ärenden. Många vardagsmönster behålls vid pensioneringen men informanterna finner också nya åtaganden och söker nya sociala arenor och aktiviteter. Betydelsen av bilen har inte förändrats men den används av andra anledningar än tidigare. Vid pensioneringen skapas andra tidsrumsliga begränsningar vilka inverkar på efterfrågan på mobilitet. Resultaten visa också att "tredje platser" blir viktiga, särskilt bland dem som lever ensamma, eftersom de ger en möjlighet att vara en del av ett socialt sammanhang och en anledning att komma hemifrån. Uppföljningsintervjuerna visade att förutsättningarna för mobilitet förändras när hälsan försämras. Promenaderna blir kortare och bilen används i högre utsträckning för de ärenden dit de tidigare kunde gå eller cykla. Men trots allvarliga sjukdomar och långa perioder av rehabilitering kan mobiliteten upprätthållas.
ERA-NET 2007 "Keep moving: improving the mobility of older persons"
Sentrip - Senior life transition points

Cette thèse pose la question de l'allongement des vies professionnelles dans une société française vieillissante. Elle cherche à observer les conséquences des choix politiques à cet égard sur les conceptions de l'âge au travail et à la retraite, et sur les modes d'organisation des temporalités sociales. D'un point de vue théorique, la recherche s'inscrit dans la perspective du parcours vie et dans l'analyse cognitive des politiques publiques. Elle donne alors à voir un délitement des frontières entre travail et retraite, accentué par une atténuation des lignes de démarcation entre travail marchand et travail non marchand. On peut y voir en particulier les effets d'un processus de (re)mobilisation des compétences lors de la transition vers la retraite. D'un point de vue méthodologique, deux enquêtes ont été menées. La première a été conduite auprès des entreprises soumises à l'obligation de mener une négociation collective par le dispositif public du contrat de génération. Elle s'est intéressée à la manière dont cette réglementation a conduit ces entreprises à questionner et à ajuster leurs pratiques de gestion des âges, en particulier à l'égard de l'objectif visant à faire de la transmission des compétences un support des coopérations intergénérationnelles. La seconde enquête a porté sur l'étude de cas d'une association nationale de retraités et pré-retraités qui pratiquent le « bénévolat de compétences ». Elle a interrogé les motivations individuelles et collectives à l'égard de cette pratique et les enjeux qu'elle soulève sur leur rôle et leur positionnement dans la société
This research raises the question of longer working lives in an aging French society. It seeks to observe the consequences of political choices on the representations of age and on the organization of social temporalities. From a theoretical point of view, this research combines two dimensions: the life course perspective and the cognitive analysis of public policies. Results show a gradual disintegration of boundaries between work and retirement, accentuated by the attenuation of the demarcation lines between merchant and non-market work. In particular, this phenomenon can be seen as on of the effects of a process of (re) mobilization of skills during the transition from employment to retirement. From a methodological point of view, two surveys were conducted. The first was conducted with companies that were subject to collective negociation under the public framework of the "Contrat de génération". It was interested in how this law has led these companies to question and adjust their age management practices, particularly with regard to measures relating to the transfer of skills and intergenerational cooperation. The second survey focused on the specific case study of a national association of retirees and pre-retirees who practice "skills-based volunteering". It questioned individual and collective motivations underlying this practice and the issues it raise about their place in society

Over 43.5 million Americans provide informal care to a fast-growing elderly population in the United States. Informal care allows care-recipients to remain functional members of society. However, research suggests that the demands of informal care can negatively impact the health of caregivers. For example, caregiver burden increases the risk for poor health in caregivers compared to non-caregivers. Caregiving research is on the rise, but the dynamics of informal care in active retirement communities remains widely unexplored. To provide adequate services to lessen caregiver burden and improve the Quality of Life (QoL) of informal caregivers, the various settings in which informal care is delivered must be evaluated. Aiming to understand the needs of informal caregivers and the protective factors against caregiver burden in active retirement communities, data from the USF Health and The Villages study, conducted from October 2011 and March 2013, were analyzed. Data from twenty-nine focus groups (N=144) was used to explore the challenges faced by seniors in a caregiver role and the availability of resources that decrease caregiver burden. The primary focus was informal care and the challenges associated with the caregiver role; findings revealed a great need for caregiver relief and limited information on existing resources is available to informal caregivers. Consistent with existing literature on caregiver burden, having no personal time, financial burden, physical demands, and poor health were commonly identified as the biggest caregiving challenges. However, findings strongly suggest that the unique structure of The Villages community encourages high social support that may be the strongest protective factor against caregiver burden in the community.

The subject of my diploma thesis is the design of a new building "retirement home", a home with a special regime, in the form of project documentation for the construction. The building is partly basement with four above-ground floors and covered by a single-layer flat roof. On the first floor there are common, operational spaces and spaces for commercial use. The other above-ground floors are identical and serve as an accommodation. There is mostly technical background in the basement. The construction system is a wall bi-directional of brick masonry elements, with the exception of basement masonry, which is made of reinforced concrete. The object is based on foundation pads and strips. Ceiling structures are monolithic reinforced concrete. The whole building is insulated by contact insulation and has a ventilated facade.

This research investigated the relationship of predisposing attributes of preretirees to the perceived importance of locational preferences during the first ten years of retirement. Multiple regression analyses and a Chi-square test were used to determine if seven predisposing attributes were related to ten locational preferences. Data were analyzed from a age-stratified random sample of 1003 preretirees age 40-65 in the three western states of Idaho, Oregon, and Utah. The data were collected in a mail survey in 1990 by the Western Regional Agricultural Experiment Station Committee (W-176). Gender, education, and income were significantly related to respondents' perceived importance of low cost of living. Females, individuals with lower income, and those with less education indicated a higher perceived importance for low cost of living. Gender and income were significantly related to respondents' perceived importance of employment opportunities. Employment opportunities were more important for females and individuals with lower income. Older respondents and females indicated a greater importance for convenience and care amenities. Older respondents, females, and respondents who had not moved, placed more importance on close proximity to family. Females and respondents with higher levels of education indicated greater importance for personal enrichment opportunities. The perceived importance of recreation was greater for males, younger respondents, and respondents with higher income and education. As age increased, the perceived importance for warm temperatures increased. Health was significantly related to perceived importance of accessible medical facilities, but there was no significant difference in health status and desired types of medical services. The findings of this study may assist policy makers, community planners, and the business sector in understanding the heterogeneous nature of the aging population. It may also assist in responsive long-range planning in accommodating future elderly.
Graduation date: 1994

This dissertation looks at the possibility of using a development, like a retirement village, to stimulate the economic development of small towns. Following on from this, the question of whether or not a retirement village could be used as a model for Local Economic Development (LED) of small towns is also explored. The case study chosen, is that of the small town ofHowick (situated in the Midlands ofKwaZulu-Natal) and Amberfield Retirement Village which is located there. The study examines the economic impact that Amberfield Retirement Village has had on the small town ofHowick, as well as le>oking at the extent to which its success is locationally specific (and what implications this wou}d have in terms of replicating the retirement village). The findings of the study reveal that Amberfield Retirement Village has had a significant impact on Howick, especially in terms ofthe linkages it creates and the large injection of capital that it brought to the small town. The unique locational aspects and specificity of both Howick and Amberfield Retirement Village also form part of the findings of the study, and which affect the conclusion drawn in terms ofthe replicability ofthe retirement village. It is concluded that the retirement village could be used as a model for LED of other small towns, however, the location and the setting of the retirement village are all important.
Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1997.

Changing demographics and lifestyles in Thailand are eroding traditional patterns of family support for the elderly. Caring for the elderly within the family structure is no longer assured. However, the concept of living in retirement housing is unfamiliar to most senior Thai citizens. The purpose of this study was to examine the acceptance of nontraditional retirement housing by pre-retirees in Thailand. The study was based on Rogers' (1995) theory on diffusion of innovations. Personal innovativeness toward housing and acceptance of nontraditional retirement housing of an age-stratified sample of 423 faculty pre-retirees at selected Thai universities, representing metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, were examined. Four types of housing, perceived as new options to Thai people, were considered: the universal designed single detached house (SD); Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity or "granny flat" (ECHO); congregate housing (CH), and the Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). Independent variables were demographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, education, and income) and housing characteristics (tenure status, dwelling expenditure, current housing type, and location). Data were collected during February 2002 through a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive analyses of the independent variables were presented in frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and t-tests and ANOVA were conducted for comparison of variables. Stepwise multiple regression and nonparametric correlation were utilized to test seven null hypotheses. Results dictated rejection of six of the seven null hypotheses. A relationship between personal innovativeness toward housing and gender, income, and education level were found. Males and those with higher income had higher mean innovativeness scores. However, those with higher education levels had lower innovativeness toward housing. Females had higher mean acceptance scores for combined non-traditional housing types. Of the four housing types, the universal designed single detached house (SD) was the most acceptable, followed by Continuing Care Retirement Housing (CCRC). Metropolitan respondents were more accepting of the CCRC than non-metropolitan. A positive correlation was found between personal innovativeness toward housing and acceptance of non-traditional housing types. Personal innovativeness also mediated the effect of demographic and housing characteristics on acceptance of all non-traditional retirement housing types. Respondents showed a medium level of personal innovativeness and a medium to high level of acceptance of non-traditional housing types. Mass media communication was suggested to promote awareness and knowledge of non-traditional housing types to prospective elderly housing consumers. Research on cultural aspects of retirement housing for Thai housing consumers was recommended for further study.
Graduation date: 2003

This study is a secondary analysis of data collected from a six-year longitudinal qualitative study called Eating Together (ET), which sought to better understand the mealtime experience of community dwelling persons with dementia and their primary partners in care. Findings from the primary study highlighted the importance of mealtimes for these families, and as persons with dementia moved into long-term care homes it was noted that the meaning of the mealtime experience was challenged. Data from select dyads in the primary study was thematically analyzed, to understand the mealtime experience of persons with dementia and their primary partners in care, when persons with dementia relocated to a “new place”; a long-term care home. Findings revealed five themes related to the new mealtime experience in the long-term care home, including: systemizing the meal, adjusting to dining with others, holding on to “home”, evolving roles, and becoming “at home”.
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada