Ageing-in-place a challenge
Ageing-in-place is usually viewed as a positive approach to meeting the needs of the older person, supporting them to live independently, or with some assistance, for as long as possible.
It implies that older people prefer to live in their own home, rather than in an institution or care centre.
However, there is little in the literature about the implications of ageing-in-place for the individual or their carers, or the burden this can place on service providers and aged care communities.
A new study in the May edition of the Australian Health Review investigates the complexities and challenges of change in an aged care community in Western Australia. It identifies the challenges of ageing-in-place for individuals, carers, family and the aged care service providers.
“While ageing-in-place should be a desirable option for older people, service providers need to ensure that sufficient attention is paid to the wider impacts on the individual, the family and carers. Ageing-in-place has become ‘common language’ with policy makers, within the industry, and in the wider community without real understanding of the implications of its favour. It is a commendable ideal – but should not become a burden,” author Dr Barbara Horner, director, Centre for Research on Ageing, Curtin University, Perth, said.
