Sheila Peace

‘Option recognition’ in later life: variations in ageing in place

ABSTRACT During the 1970s, American gerontologist M. Powell Lawton and colleagues saw the person–environment system as fundamental to defining the quality of later life. They proposed the environmental docility hypothesis that weighed whether the more competent the person, the less dependent they are on environmental circumstances. This work was later advanced to show that environmental pro-activity, including adaptation, could reinforce control and autonomy. While that theoretical development focused on the micro-environment of accommodation, it can be applied to the macro-environment of community living. This paper, which utilises data from an empirical study ‘Environment and Identity in Later Life’, examines both the micro and macro scales, develops the theoretical content of the person-competence model, considers the complexity of person–environment interaction, and argues that over time some people find that their attachments to particular environments are compromised by declining competence or changes in the environment, or both. The point at which change impacts on an individuals independence and wellbeing is reached when adaptive behaviour cannot rebalance the macro- and micro-environmental press. This point, termed ‘option recognition’, leads to a range of strategic responses including: modification of behaviour or environment; structural support using formal and informal services; and relocation; all of which impact on self-identity.

Stepfamilies and older people: evaluating the implications of family change for an ageing population

The changing nature of family life has become a major issue in contemporary Britain. Concerns that change will bring moral decline and social fragmentation are countered by a more optimistic view which focuses on a future of more equitable and flexible family ties. Research drawing on area-based data in Luton amongst older, middle-aged and younger people with experience of family change suggests that so far as inter-generational relations, caring, and transfers of family wealth are concerned, traditional attitudes towards blood ties, household independence and care and support survive alongside new step relationships. The research also suggests that although several respondents had more than one generation of experience of family change, the language of step relationships is still one which is not yet completely accepted, or one with which people feel completely at ease.

Learning to see: lessons from a participatory observation research project in public spaces

This article outlines the development and implementation of participatory research methodology centred on observational techniques. It discusses theoretical understandings of the methodology and how it works in practice. The research explored the use of public spaces by different social, ethnic and activity groups across the course of a 12‐month period, drawing on the experiences of, and data collected by local non‐academic researchers who were trained in a non‐participatory semi‐structured observation method. The article discusses how this method was developed and implemented and considers some of the issues around how participatory research works in practice.

Hearing the voices of people with high support needs

This article draws on findings from a study commissioned by the British charity, The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, to explore the needs and aspirations of older people who for whatever reason require a high degree of assistance. The study explored the personal aspirations of a small diverse sample (n=26) of hitherto un-researched people living in different parts of the UK. Most were over 85 years of age, with varied ethnicity, health status, social care needs, financial status and lifestyle. Many participants were receiving input from statutory health and social care services and were perceived by others and often themselves to have high support needs. Accessible research methods were used to enable participants to specify those factors for well-being most central to their own lives and preferences. The study found commonalities of aspiration in relation to physical, social and psychological aspects of their lives, but also unique descriptions of their individual concerns. In striving to maintain a sense of self worth, participants accepted that some choices were not realistic for them personally. Positive relationships with care-givers were an essential enabler for some. In many cases negotiation has the potential to produce simple and cost-effective ways of addressing individual aspirations and improving quality of life.

A Study of User Needs for the ‘Techno Kitchen’

A project, Transitions in Kitchen Living (TiKL) has been conducted to study kitchen histories and current use by older people. A multidisciplinary team developed a common interview methodology to collect people’s personal kitchen histories and their views on their current kitchen. Now and in the future ambient assistance and applied electronic technology might provide additional functionality to make kitchens easier to use for all ages. This paper relates some of these technical developments to user needs identified in the TiKL project and reports on the results of a survey to obtain older people’s views on them.

Older people's experiences of their kitchens: 2000 to 2010

Purpose – This paper aims to present the quantitative results based on a comparison and evaluation of older peoples experiences, needs and wants from their current kitchens, combining and comparing the results obtained from two studies conducted in 2000 and 2010 to see what progress has been made.Design/methodology/approach – A study in 2010 investigated the life‐long and contemporary experiences of kitchens of 48 people aged over 60 years of age. The research included detailed questionnaire interviews asking people about their experiences of living in their current kitchen. A previous study, conducted in 2000, asked many of the same questions of 22 people in the same age group.Findings – By combining and comparing the two sets of data it seems that only limited progress has been made in terms of kitchen design meeting the needs of older people between 2000 and 2010.Research limitations/implications – Owing to the small sizes of the samples it is not possible to compare the figures statistically or prese...