A Conceptual Framework of Policy/Actions for Age as a Factor in Predicting Alternative Housing Needs Among Non-Metropolitan Populations

By:

A major concern of the world’s society today is the aging of its population and the special housing needs of that aging population. Research in the 21st century should focus on the social/architectural housing needs of aging populations. The context is the predicted rapid aging of the developed countries population over the next forty years as a consequence of both a sustained period of low birth rates and an extension in the natural life span. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for age as a factor in predicting acceptable housing alternatives among the non-metropolitan based on an overview of review of the existing literature. The conceptual framework comprises exogenous factors (housing satisfaction, concept of home, housing situation, and demographics), endogenous factors (e.g. acceptance of housing alternatives), outcome variables, alternative variables and control variables. In conclusion, the present study takes the approach of proposing a theoretical framework which can be applied to practical situations in the housing industry by reviewing available literature. Such research approach is common, particularly when existing knowledge in the particular area is still somewhat narrow. Furthermore, the present study, hence, contributes to the advancement of the literature on housing needs for the elderly It is also hoped that this paper will highlight the importance of alternatives housing for the elderly to industry practitioners. Finally, it is envisaged that this theoretical model will provide a useful tool for the built environment practitioners in developing a more comprehensive overall alternative housing for the aging population.

Stream: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Gender

Paper: A Conceptual Framework of Policy/Actions for Age as a Factor in Predicting Alternative Housing Needs among Non-Metropolitan Populations

Dr. Jacob O.Oluwoye, has been an active researcher in the Transportation, Public Health and Built Environment field since the late 1990’s and is currently researching on a topic entitled “ Improving Quality of Life in Rural Alabama; Age as a Factor in Predicting Acceptance Housing Alternative Among the Non-Metropolitan Population”. The project was supported by the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, Evans Allen for three years. Dr. Oluwoye has a wealth of experience in project management, research design, measurement, longitudinal studies, computer-assisted interviews, visual techniques in collecting behavioral social sciences data, data analysis, report writing and fiscal management.