The Meaning and Experiences of Home to Korean Older Adults: Aging in Place Vs. Placement with Age (WITHDRAWN)

Background and Purpose: There is little attention on the investigating about the meaning and experiences of home while there is a strong focus on housing and support or care in the aging in place literature, especially in Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate a difference in terms of lived experiences and a meaning for the place of residence in later life. In particular, this study focused on the meaning and experiences in place of residence in Korean elderly in terms of the view of environmental gerontology.

Methods: Older people, ranging in age from 68 to 88 years, participated in in-depth interviews(N=35). The participants were invited from two distinct groups: one is the elderly group who have been continuously living in their community and the other group is the one who experienced moving to congregate housing in their later life. The questions, "what is the meaning and the experiences of place of residence in later life?" and "what is a ideal place to grow older?" were explored, including reflections on aging in place. Phenomenological data analysis was performed to develop a thick description that accurately captures and communicates the meaning of the lived experiences of the research participants.

Findings: Korean older adults lack a real choice about where and how they age in place. In particular, the meaning of home was seen as a social and cultural phenomenon although there is a limited choice where they age due to lack of resources. However, aging in place also linked to the concept of independence, autonomy and a sense of social connection. Living arrangements and amenities were a little important factors when they choose where to live whereas transportation and social connection factors were much more important in Korean elderly. Also, the meaning of home in later life was seen as a sense of attachment, refugee, and social inclusion.

Conclusion and Implications: Korean older adults wanted to have choices about where and how they age in place. The meaning of home is a pragmatic concept later than ideal one in Korean elderly. Also, the concept of aging in place operates in multiple interacting ways, which need to be taken into account in both policy and research. Based on the study results, policy implications are presented in the paper.