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Moving in together in later life : Making spaces into places as a joint endeavor

Wanka, Anna ; Schmidt, Steven M. LU orcid ; Iwarsson, Susanne LU ; Oswald, Frank ; Wazinski, Karla ; Slaug, Björn LU orcid and Kylén, Maya LU orcid (2024) In Journal of Aging Studies 68.
Abstract

Background and objectives: We focus on the linkages between relocation, new forms of partner cohabitation, and retirement. What are the patterns and trajectories of moving in with a partner in retirement? How do older adults experience different transitions, place attachment, and placemaking when they move in with a partner? Research design and methods: In this qualitative study, 50 persons between 60 and 75 years old were interviewed in Sweden and Germany. For this paper, we focused on nine participants who experienced a relocation with a partner in retirement. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a strategy derived from social constructivist Grounded Theory and thematic analysis. Results: Research participants described... (More)

Background and objectives: We focus on the linkages between relocation, new forms of partner cohabitation, and retirement. What are the patterns and trajectories of moving in with a partner in retirement? How do older adults experience different transitions, place attachment, and placemaking when they move in with a partner? Research design and methods: In this qualitative study, 50 persons between 60 and 75 years old were interviewed in Sweden and Germany. For this paper, we focused on nine participants who experienced a relocation with a partner in retirement. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a strategy derived from social constructivist Grounded Theory and thematic analysis. Results: Research participants described experiences of several relocations and cohabitation trajectories. In particular, we identified two patterns of relocating with a partner in retirement: moving into a new place with a partner and moving into a partner's pre-existing home, the latter proving more challenging for forming place attachment and for the couple relationship. Relocation experiences appeared to form a joint process in which relationships and retirement were renegotiated. Discussion and implications: Using cross-cultural data, this novel study shows an unexpected diversity in housing and cohabitation trajectories among older adults. More research is needed to understand what “aging in the right place” with “the right person” really means and the role of life course trajectories and couple negotiations in such processes. Future research should focus on what comes before and after relocation rather than solely studying the decision-making process that leads up to a move.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Housing, Life transitions, Meaning of home, Relocation, Retirement
in
Journal of Aging Studies
volume
68
article number
101191
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:38458716
  • scopus:85177765576
ISSN
0890-4065
DOI
10.1016/j.jaging.2023.101191
project
Perceived Housing and Life Transitions: Good Ageing-in Place
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2023
id
2c518de5-9c8d-49dc-882d-6f073c1e4a6a
date added to LUP
2023-12-10 20:40:10
date last changed
2024-04-23 14:07:56
@article{2c518de5-9c8d-49dc-882d-6f073c1e4a6a,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background and objectives: We focus on the linkages between relocation, new forms of partner cohabitation, and retirement. What are the patterns and trajectories of moving in with a partner in retirement? How do older adults experience different transitions, place attachment, and placemaking when they move in with a partner? Research design and methods: In this qualitative study, 50 persons between 60 and 75 years old were interviewed in Sweden and Germany. For this paper, we focused on nine participants who experienced a relocation with a partner in retirement. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a strategy derived from social constructivist Grounded Theory and thematic analysis. Results: Research participants described experiences of several relocations and cohabitation trajectories. In particular, we identified two patterns of relocating with a partner in retirement: moving into a new place with a partner and moving into a partner's pre-existing home, the latter proving more challenging for forming place attachment and for the couple relationship. Relocation experiences appeared to form a joint process in which relationships and retirement were renegotiated. Discussion and implications: Using cross-cultural data, this novel study shows an unexpected diversity in housing and cohabitation trajectories among older adults. More research is needed to understand what “aging in the right place” with “the right person” really means and the role of life course trajectories and couple negotiations in such processes. Future research should focus on what comes before and after relocation rather than solely studying the decision-making process that leads up to a move.</p>}},
  author       = {{Wanka, Anna and Schmidt, Steven M. and Iwarsson, Susanne and Oswald, Frank and Wazinski, Karla and Slaug, Björn and Kylén, Maya}},
  issn         = {{0890-4065}},
  keywords     = {{Housing; Life transitions; Meaning of home; Relocation; Retirement}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Aging Studies}},
  title        = {{Moving in together in later life : Making spaces into places as a joint endeavor}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2023.101191}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jaging.2023.101191}},
  volume       = {{68}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}