Aging in place is not a universal solution: Lessons for occupational therapy (February 14, 2023)

Gerontological best-practices encourage aging-in-place as the ideal outcome for later life. The ability to age gracefully within one’s chosen home and community is reinforced by academic and social rhetoric. However, it does not reflect the reality for minoritized and/or systemically excluded older adult populations that occupational therapists often work with. Occupational therapists have a responsibility to support diverse clients across a range of attachments to home and community, including those who choose not to or are unable to age in place.

This webinar will explore the concepts of home, community, place, and space, and describe aging-out-of-place. Experiences of disadvantaged older adults for whom aging-in-place is not a viable, feasible, or preferred option will be shared. How older adults, such as new immigrants or unhoused individuals, create a sense of home through meaningful occupations will inform how occupational therapists might support clients with diverse needs and circumstances (e.g., caregiving, transportation, end-of-life). This activity will demonstrate use of system change models to promote equity and propose opportunities for occupational therapists to lead programming and interventions for clients that have varying attachments to home and community. 

After taking part in this webinar, participants will be able to: 

1. Understand the evolving and nuanced definitions of aging-in-place, and identify barriers to aging in place.
2. Define aging-out-of-place, and identify unique circumstances that may prompt older adult subgroups to age out-of-place.
3. Discuss innovative solutions through policies, services, environment, and technology, that can be used to support older adults who are aging-out-of-place.

Level 
Intermediate (3-5 years of experience in this specific area of practice)