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Alternative Modes of Living for the Elderly

A Critical Review

  • Chapter
Elderly People and the Environment

Part of the book series: Human Behavior and Environment ((HUBE,volume 7))

Abstract

This chapter will review critically literature and issues surrounding alternative housing for the elderly. It will focus on three central objectives:

  1. 1.

    To clarify what is meant by the concept of alternative housing. In the past it has been a murky and diffuse concept of limited heuristic value. In our analysis alternative housing will be viewed from two related yet different perspectives. First, a housing type will be considered alternative if it represents an alternative to institutonalization in a nursing home or other extended-care facility. Second, an alternative will include housing types which are considered atypical, newly emerging, or generally ignored in the literature.

  2. 2.

    To suggest a conceptual framework for organizing research and discussion. Thus far research on and discussion of alternative housing has been devoid of a guiding conceptual framework. For example, important levels of analysis such as macrosocial forces have not been taken into consideration or given adequate attention.

  3. 3.

    In general terms, to outline areas for future research and discussion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, USA

    J. Kevin Eckert & Mary Ittman Murrey

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  1. J. Kevin Eckert
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  2. Mary Ittman Murrey
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Social and Behavioral Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

    Irwin Altman

  2. Philadelphia Geriatric Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    M. Powell Lawton

  3. Division of Individual and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Joachim F. Wohlwill

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Eckert, J.K., Murrey, M.I. (1984). Alternative Modes of Living for the Elderly. In: Altman, I., Lawton, M.P., Wohlwill, J.F. (eds) Elderly People and the Environment. Human Behavior and Environment, vol 7. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2171-0_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2171-0_4

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