Perspectives on ageing in place: Older adults' experiences of everyday life in urban neighbourhoods.

The Dutch government has implemented ageing in place policies in order to postpone and decrease expensive institutionalised care. These policies are promoted by stressing that growing old in one’s own home and neighbourhood is in the best interests of older adults as they can then age within a familiar environment that is supportive of their social, emotional and instrumental needs. In both research and policy, it is generally assumed that older adults prefer to age in place as the number of home moves in later life declines with increasing age and older people are also less inclined to consider moving than younger adults. Aging in place can help in preserving a sense of independence, identity, social embeddedness and emotional attachment with the home and community. However, the reality of ageing in place is not straightforward as austerity measures and constraints on younger people’s time in providing support can impede the supposed benefits of ageing in one’s familiar surroundings. This thesis provides a critical perspective of ageing in place through highlighting older adults’ experiences of everyday life in urban neighbourhoods. The aim of this thesis is to provide an understanding of the elements that play a role in the subjective dimensions of ageing in place. In particular, the focus is on the neighbourhood as a place of ageing in place. These chapters advance the conceptualisation of the notion of ageing in place.