This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Wister, A. V. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Environmental Adaptation by Persons in their Later Life

University of Waterloo

In an attempt to delay institutionalization among elders while supporting their widespread desire for privacy and independence in living style, it has been deemed necessary to adapt the physical and social milieu to fit declining competence. The theoretical rationale underlying current housing policy can be identified in person-environment theories of aging. The aims of this article are to (1) assess critically and expand Lawton's ecological model of aging as it pertains to environmental decisions among the elderly, and (2) test a series of hypotheses derived from the theoretical discussion using a 1987 study of environmental adaptation among 280 elderly, 74 years of age and over, living in the community. The most striking finding is the tendency for older elderly to engage in psychological processes of adaptation to a greater extent than altering the physical or social characteristics of the home environment. The findings suggest extending the Lawton model to include a wider range of subjective attributes of the individual.

Research on Aging, Vol. 11, No. 3, 267-291 (1989)
DOI: 10.1177/0164027589113001


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Iecovich and O. Lev-Ran Attitudes of Functionally Independent Residents Toward Residents Who Were Disabled in Old Age Homes: The Role of Separation Versus Integration Journal of Applied Gerontology, June 1, 2006; 25(3): 252 - 268. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. Iwarsson A Long-Term Perspective on Person-Environment Fit and ADL Dependence Among Older Swedish Adults Gerontologist, June 1, 2005; 45(3): 327 - 336. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. M. Agree, V. A. Freedman, and M. Sengupta Factors Influencing the Use of Mobility Technology in Community-Based Long-Term Care J Aging Health, April 1, 2004; 16(2): 267 - 307. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. K. Petrella and M. E. Cress Daily Ambulation Activity and Task Performance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Aged 63-71 Years With Preclinical Disability J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., March 1, 2004; 59(3): M264 - M267. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Abreu, J. Hutchins, J. Matson, N. Polizzi, and C. J. Seymour Effect of Group Versus Home Visit Safety Education and Prevention Strategies for Falling in Community-Dwelling Elderly Persons Home Health Care Management Practice, June 1, 1998; 10(4): 57 - 65. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. Wielink, R. Huijsman, and J. McDonnell Preferences for Care: A Study of the Elders Living Independently in the Netherlands Research on Aging, June 1, 1997; 19(2): 174 - 198. [Abstract]

				Y. L. Malroutu and J. A. Brandt Factors Influencing Community Preferences for Retirement Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, March 1, 1997; 25(3): 298 - 315. [Abstract]

				H. A. Klein Home Satisfaction: Related Health and Psychosocial Variables Journal of Applied Gerontology, December 1, 1993; 12(4): 439 - 451. [Abstract] [PDF]