Rozendal, Thomas (2024) The impact of living arrangements on quality of life among older adults: aging in place versus retirement homes. Master thesis.
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Abstract
The aging population in the Netherlands poses significant challenges for living arrangements and their impact on the quality of life among older adults. This thesis investigates how different living arrangements, specifically aging in place versus residing in retirement homes, influence the quality of life of older adults using a quantitative analysis of the WoON 2021 survey data. The study employs Coarsened Exact Matching (CEM) to control for the compositional effect, ensuring comparability between the two groups. The findings reveal no significant difference in life satisfaction between older adults aging in place and those residing in retirement homes after matching to control for compositional effects. This suggests that living arrangements alone may not be the primary determinant of life satisfaction. Instead, other factors such as health status, social quality, and activity hindrance play more substantial roles. Health emerged as a pivotal factor, with better health significantly associated with higher life satisfaction, underscoring the importance of health promotion and maintenance programs tailored to older adults. The extent and quality of social interactions were also crucial, with higher social quality linked to greater life satisfaction. Physical limitations negatively impacted life satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of interventions aimed at reducing activity hindrance and promoting physical independence. Living in a multi-person household had a small but significant positive effect on life satisfaction, suggesting that social support within the household can enhance well-being. Higher household income was associated with increased life satisfaction, although the effect size was relatively small, indicating that financial stability is an important aspect of overall well-being. The study's findings have several policy implications. Firstly, there is a need for policies aimed at improving the health of older adults through preventive measures and access to healthcare services. Secondly, fostering social interactions and community engagement can significantly enhance the quality of life. Thirdly, interventions to reduce physical limitations and promote independence are essential. Financial support programs to ensure adequate income for older adults can also contribute to their well-being. Finally, spatial planning should create age-friendly environments that cater to the needs of older adults in both urban and rural settings. In conclusion, while living arrangements themselves do not significantly impact the quality of life among older adults in the Netherlands, health status, social quality, and activity hindrance are critical factors. Policymakers should focus on these areas to improve the well-being of the older population. By addressing health, social interaction, physical independence, and financial stability, it is possible to enhance the overall quality of life for older adults, whether they age in place or reside in retirement homes. The insights gained from this study underscore the multifaceted nature of quality of life and highlight the importance of a holistic approach to supporting the aging population.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Degree programme: | Society, Sustainability and Planning (MSc Socio-spatial Planning) |
| Supervisor: | Rijnks, R.H. |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Aug 2024 10:00 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Aug 2024 10:00 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4725 |
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