Housing Decisions in

Old Age

Project Details

NLCB Proposal

Glossary

Research Methods

Biographies

Questionnaire

Older People's Panels

Research methods course

In-depth Interviews

 

Project Team 

How to contact us

Research Partner Links

Hanover Housing Assoc.

Methodist Homes

Retirement Security Ltd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

The aim of this 3 year study is to develop a model of housing and care to bridge the gap between "very special housing" and "residential/nursing" care. In order to achieve this aim, the study will explore how older people make decisions about housing and what consequences these decisions have on their well-being.

The study is unusual because it will involve older people directly in the research, by training them to conduct interviews as well as seeking their advice and opinions about the research process throughout the course of the study. The project is managed jointly by Lancaster University and Counsel and Care, with the assistance of Hanover Housing Association, Methodist Homes and Retirement Security Limited.

Research Methods

A variety of different methods will be used:

  1. Written postal questionnaire – 1000 people

  2. Face-to-face interviews, conducted by older researchers – 250 people

  3. Research panels of older people – 5 panels x 3 meetings each

  4. Personal stories – written and tape-recorded personal stories about older people’s experiences in relation to housing, collected via requests to national press, over the internet, from older people’s charities and organisations

Key Questions

The key questions will focus upon the housing preferences of older people, such as:

  1. What sorts of housing would older people prefer?

  2. What sorts of housing options do older people have?

  3. What do older people say about their options?

  4. How do older people decide between these options?

  5. What factors are most important in influencing their decisions?

  6. What say do people have in where or with whom they live?

                                     

If you would like to know more about the study or think you may be interested in participating, please contact:

Mary Leamy

Research Associate

Cartmel College

Applied social sciences

Lancaster University

Bailrigg

Lancaster

LA1 4YN

Tel. (01524) 594126 (work), (016977) 41726 (home),

Liz Brooks

Twyman House

16 Bonny Street

London

NW1 9PG

020 7482 5824 (work)