Reports on the findings of a three-year participatory action research study exploring what it was like to live and work in the Berryhill Retirement Village in Stoke on Trent, which was developed by the ExtraCare Charitable Trust and Touchstone Housing Association. funded by the Community Fund (now the Big Lottery Fund), the study suggests that Berryhill works well for many. However there were
Reports on the findings of a three-year participatory action research study exploring what it was like to live and work in the Berryhill Retirement Village in Stoke on Trent, which was developed by the ExtraCare Charitable Trust and Touchstone Housing Association. funded by the Community Fund (now the Big Lottery Fund), the study suggests that Berryhill works well for many. However there were persistent challenges for all involved.
Subject terms:
older people, retirement, retirement communities, supported housing, user views, communities;
Social Policy and Administration, 27(3), September 1993, pp.221-234.
Publisher:
Wiley
Reports on a study of older people in Charleroi, Belgium, and their views on neighbourhood life, family, dependency and domiciliary services, health, leisure-time and voluntary action, and retirement. One of a series of companion studies.
Reports on a study of older people in Charleroi, Belgium, and their views on neighbourhood life, family, dependency and domiciliary services, health, leisure-time and voluntary action, and retirement. One of a series of companion studies.
Subject terms:
home care, older people, retirement, surveys, user views, volunteers, health;
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to enquire how housing providers can facilitate a “social scene” which helps residents to bond together and which indirectly can generate both mutual aid and a collective voice.
Design/methodology/approach: The study of 16 retirement housing schemes (including social rented, extra care and leasehold), involved focus groups engaging altogether 130 residents, interviews with estate managers and a postal survey with 120 respondents across eight estates.
Findings: The findings highlight an important “community development” role for existing on-site managers and the risk that a move to floating support means losing this function. They illustrate the obstacles faced by retirement housing residents in developing collective social activities or a participatory
(Publisher abstract)
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to enquire how housing providers can facilitate a “social scene” which helps residents to bond together and which indirectly can generate both mutual aid and a collective voice.
Design/methodology/approach: The study of 16 retirement housing schemes (including social rented, extra care and leasehold), involved focus groups engaging altogether 130 residents, interviews with estate managers and a postal survey with 120 respondents across eight estates.
Findings: The findings highlight an important “community development” role for existing on-site managers and the risk that a move to floating support means losing this function. They illustrate the obstacles faced by retirement housing residents in developing collective social activities or a participatory voice in management. This paper is one of several ongoing and planned outputs of the study covering different aspects of the findings.
Research limitations/implications: The initial study reported here is largely based on residents’ views. A follow-up survey of over 400 estate managers is now in progress.
Social implications: The findings offer warnings about the potential and limitations of self-managed housing for the older old, and the dangers of replacing on-site staff by floating support.
Originality/value: The research fills a gap in previous work on sheltered housing by focusing on the community rather than the individual resident. It will inform planning of housing support models to build and sustain social capital in elders’ housing schemes.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
communities, community care, housing, retirement, sheltered housing, social activities, community development, user views, service users, older people;
Many people decide to leave the UK and move abroad on reaching retirement, and older black and minority ethnic people in the UK who were born abroad may consider returning to their country of birth when they retire. This study builds on the findings of an earlier report (The Costs of 'Returning Home') into some of the potential increased costs of returning to another country after living in the UK for some time, and focuses on how people decide where to spend retirement. The qualitative study involved focus groups with over 80 older people from different ethnic backgrounds (Caribbean, Moroccan and white British), both retired and approaching retirement, asking participants about whether they considered spending retirement outside the UK, in particular in their country of birth. It looks at the considerations, attractions and barriers to overseas retirement, covering older people and return migration, financial considerations (such as accessing UK state pensions and other welfare benefits overseas), health and health care, family and friends, and belonging (including way of life and conceptions of home). It includes key conclusions and policy actions. An appendix lists countries where UK state
Many people decide to leave the UK and move abroad on reaching retirement, and older black and minority ethnic people in the UK who were born abroad may consider returning to their country of birth when they retire. This study builds on the findings of an earlier report (The Costs of 'Returning Home') into some of the potential increased costs of returning to another country after living in the UK for some time, and focuses on how people decide where to spend retirement. The qualitative study involved focus groups with over 80 older people from different ethnic backgrounds (Caribbean, Moroccan and white British), both retired and approaching retirement, asking participants about whether they considered spending retirement outside the UK, in particular in their country of birth. It looks at the considerations, attractions and barriers to overseas retirement, covering older people and return migration, financial considerations (such as accessing UK state pensions and other welfare benefits overseas), health and health care, family and friends, and belonging (including way of life and conceptions of home). It includes key conclusions and policy actions. An appendix lists countries where UK state pensions are frozen and uprated.
Subject terms:
migration, older people, pensions, retirement, user views, African Caribbean people, benefits, black and minority ethnic people, costs;
Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 7(4), December 2010, pp.295-301.
Publisher:
Wiley
The structuring of daytime activities for older people with intellectual disabilities is often at odds with the views or needs of the people involved with these activities. The aim of this study was to understand the perceptions of people with intellectual disability with respect to the mandatory retirement from attending day centres. The participants were drawn from two Scottish local authorities, where local policy dictates that when an adult reaches the age of 65 they must retire from day services. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 adults aged 41 to 64 and the resultant transcripts subjected to interpretive phenomenological analysis. Five themes emerged from the analysis: the importance of activity; the day centre as a social hub; confusion concerning retirement; desire for continuity; and the value of independence. The adults placed great value on participation in daytime activity and on attendance at local authority-run day centres. They wished to remain active well into old age and wished to contribute to their local communities. Disconcertingly, the participants highlighted the difficulties with their understanding of retirement and those who demonstrated a level
The structuring of daytime activities for older people with intellectual disabilities is often at odds with the views or needs of the people involved with these activities. The aim of this study was to understand the perceptions of people with intellectual disability with respect to the mandatory retirement from attending day centres. The participants were drawn from two Scottish local authorities, where local policy dictates that when an adult reaches the age of 65 they must retire from day services. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 adults aged 41 to 64 and the resultant transcripts subjected to interpretive phenomenological analysis. Five themes emerged from the analysis: the importance of activity; the day centre as a social hub; confusion concerning retirement; desire for continuity; and the value of independence. The adults placed great value on participation in daytime activity and on attendance at local authority-run day centres. They wished to remain active well into old age and wished to contribute to their local communities. Disconcertingly, the participants highlighted the difficulties with their understanding of retirement and those who demonstrated a level of understanding felt that they had a disconnected role in the process. The article suggests that the provision of daytime activity for older people with intellectual disabilities should be scrutinised closely with respect to what people do as retirees and how they prepare for a change in lifestyle.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, older people, policy, retirement, user views, ageing, day centres, day services;
British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(9), September 2008, pp.371-378.
Publisher:
Sage
This qualitative research used phenomenological methods to explore art class activity as experienced by six retired people living in the community. The participants' perspectives were explored using unstructured interviews. The data were analysed using a phenomenological approach, and the participants then confirmed the findings. Painting added a special dimension to the participants' retirement:
This qualitative research used phenomenological methods to explore art class activity as experienced by six retired people living in the community. The participants' perspectives were explored using unstructured interviews. The data were analysed using a phenomenological approach, and the participants then confirmed the findings. Painting added a special dimension to the participants' retirement: it gave satisfaction, challenge, time transformation, a sense of achievement, productivity and a boost to confidence. These results confirm and extend previous studies that link creative activities to wellbeing, including those that reveal how positive emotions contribute to health. Actual attendance at an art class was also seen as valuable, because working in a group was experienced as an inspiration and an opportunity to be encouraged by and to learn from others. The activity and the socialising seemed to be equally important aspects of attending an art class. This research may contribute to the justification for participation in art or craft activity within the community, in occupational therapy practice or in settings such as residential homes, by providing further understanding of its meaning and value for retirees and its potential for promoting their health.
Subject terms:
leisure activities, older people, participation, quality of life, retirement, user views, arts, groups;
Research study considering the outlook for incomes in retirement from the perspective of the individual, covering relevant demographic, social and economic trends as experienced by individuals. Includes sections on black and minority ethnic people and housing.
Research study considering the outlook for incomes in retirement from the perspective of the individual, covering relevant demographic, social and economic trends as experienced by individuals. Includes sections on black and minority ethnic people and housing.
Subject terms:
income, housing, pensions, population, retirement, user views, black and minority ethnic people, demographics;
This paper briefly summarises research designed to gain an understanding of both the process and expectations of retiring and what being retired means for those who have done so. It also explored definitions of both retirement and being a pensioner, negative and positive connotations of both, as well as participants’ ability, and desire, to plan financially for the future. This included finding
This paper briefly summarises research designed to gain an understanding of both the process and expectations of retiring and what being retired means for those who have done so. It also explored definitions of both retirement and being a pensioner, negative and positive connotations of both, as well as participants’ ability, and desire, to plan financially for the future. This included finding out what both pensioners and pre-pensioners knew about State Pension, Pension Credit, and other government services, and what their expectations are, or were, about government interaction and communications that took place in the lead up to attaining State Pension age. Eighteen discussion groups were conducted across two waves of research in England and Wales. The key variable in terms of attitudes throughout the research was between those who had retired and those who had not. Those not yet retired described apprehension in respect of financial and social losses. They were able to save whereas those already retired often budgeted week by week. There were low expectations amongst many pre-pensioners that the State Pension will be able to adequately provide for them in later life. The report concludes that it is imperative that communications are tailored correctly for different groups of pre-pensioners and of pensioners who can have very different needs.
Subject terms:
leisure activities, occupational pensions, older people, personal finance, personal pensions, retirement, state retirement pensions, user views, access to information, attitudes, anxiety, central government, communication;
This paper reports the findings of two phases of research conducted for the Government Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS), to explore the attitudes and perceptions of people in retirement. The aim of the research was to enhance PDCS’s customer segmentation of pensioners (Odyssey) through identification of additional customer characteristics that might improve communication and service delivery. Qualitative research looked at customers’ attitudes and perceptions of their social and financial lifestyles, as well as their health and well-being. The quantitative research built upon these themes from the perspective of communicating with those of retirement age. Overall there were 22 discussion groups and 34 depth interviews. The survey involved 1,979 people. Family and, to a lesser extent,
This paper reports the findings of two phases of research conducted for the Government Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS), to explore the attitudes and perceptions of people in retirement. The aim of the research was to enhance PDCS’s customer segmentation of pensioners (Odyssey) through identification of additional customer characteristics that might improve communication and service delivery. Qualitative research looked at customers’ attitudes and perceptions of their social and financial lifestyles, as well as their health and well-being. The quantitative research built upon these themes from the perspective of communicating with those of retirement age. Overall there were 22 discussion groups and 34 depth interviews. The survey involved 1,979 people. Family and, to a lesser extent, friends fulfilled important roles in the live of respondents, in many case helping to interpret information from Government services. As anticipated, age affected participants’ outlook on society, finance and health. Traditional media, television and newspapers, were used more frequently than the internet or mobile phones. Overall face to face communication was preferred particularly for health and financial matters. Even internet users expressed reluctance to use it for personal matters. The research suggests that reaching older people directly may be difficult because of their isolation. Families and other, for example health, services may have a role to play.
Subject terms:
older people, pensions, personal finance, retirement, state retirement pensions, user views, access to information, attitudes, central government, communication, families, health;
This paper briefly summarises the findings of two phases of research conducted for the Government Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS), to explore the attitudes and perceptions of people in retirement. The aim of the research was to enhance PDCS’s customer segmentation of pensioners (Odyssey) through identification of additional customer characteristics that might improve communication and service delivery. Qualitative research looked at customers’ attitudes and perceptions of their social and financial lifestyles, as well as their health and well-being. The quantitative research built upon these themes from the perspective of communicating with those of retirement age. Overall there were 22 discussion groups and 34 depth interviews. The survey involved 1,979 people. Family
This paper briefly summarises the findings of two phases of research conducted for the Government Pension, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS), to explore the attitudes and perceptions of people in retirement. The aim of the research was to enhance PDCS’s customer segmentation of pensioners (Odyssey) through identification of additional customer characteristics that might improve communication and service delivery. Qualitative research looked at customers’ attitudes and perceptions of their social and financial lifestyles, as well as their health and well-being. The quantitative research built upon these themes from the perspective of communicating with those of retirement age. Overall there were 22 discussion groups and 34 depth interviews. The survey involved 1,979 people. Family and, to a lesser extent, friends fulfilled important roles in the live of respondents, in many case helping to interpret information from Government services. As anticipated, age affected participants’ outlook on society, finance and health. Traditional media, television and newspapers, were used more frequently than the internet or mobile phones. Overall face to face communication was preferred particularly for health and financial matters. Even internet users expressed reluctance to use it for personal matters. The research suggests that reaching older people directly may be difficult because of their isolation. Families and other, for example health, services may have a role to play.
Subject terms:
older people, pensions, personal finance, retirement, state retirement pensions, user views, access to information, attitudes, central government, communication, families, health;