From Sheltered in Place to Thriving in Place: Pandemic Places of Aging.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic required rapid changes to physical, social, and technological environments. There is a need to understand how independent-living older adults are adapting to pandemic-borne transformations of place and how environmental factors may shape experiences of aging well in the context of a public health emergency response. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a photovoice study to examine the characteristics associated with aging in place. Our study investigated how independent-living older adults characterized aging in a "right" place approximately 1 year after the onset of the pandemic. RESULTS: Six themes categorized into 2 groups capture how older adults describe a "right" place to age. The first category, "places as enactors of identity and belonging," describes the significance of places contributing to intimate relationships, social connections, and a sense of personal continuity. The second category, "places as facilitators of activities and values," recognizes environments that promote health, hobbies, goals, and belief systems. Participants reported modifying their daily living environments with increased use of technology and more time outdoors. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our findings emphasize older adults' active engagement with place and strategies used to maintain healthy aging despite public health restrictions. The results also identify place-based characteristics that may help overcome stressful circumstances from older adults' perspectives. These findings inform pathways to pursue to facilitate resiliency for aging in place.

Aging in Place Through the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives from Aging Service Providers.

Formal and informal networks of resources are critical to supporting the growing number of older adults aging in place (AIP). Data are needed from aging-service providers about assets and barriers that impact their abilities to support AIP during the pandemic, as well as emergent needs resulting from response measures. A series of World Café workshops were conducted with aging-service providers in Salt Lake City, Utah, to understand supportive factors, service gaps, and future needs. Novel domains to support AIP in the context of the pandemic were identified: digital access and literacy, social isolation and mental health, and emergency preparedness. Issues related to access, equity, and affordability were identified as overarching themes across domains. Issues reflect concern over how the pandemic exacerbated socioeconomic and cultural disparities impacting older adults who benefit from aging services. Networks of advocacy and support are needed to bolster resources for older adults, caregivers, and aging-service providers.