VOLUNTARY HOUSING TRANSITIONS of OLDER ADULTS AS GIFT GIVING PRACTICES in the MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES by Tam Elisabeth Perry
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
LEAVING HOME IN LATE LIFE: VOLUNTARY HOUSING TRANSITIONS OF OLDER ADULTS AS GIFT GIVING PRACTICES IN THE MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES by Tam Elisabeth Perry A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work and Anthropology) in the University of Michigan 2012 Doctoral Committee: Professor Ruth Dunkle, Co-Chair Professor Judith T. Irvine, Co-Chair Professor Berit Ingersoll-Dayton Professor Webb Keane Lecturer IV Holly Peters-Golden © Tam Elisabeth Perry 2012 DEDICATION For MKC, whose family and friends, local and non-local, gather to support her. This study on families, however defined, teaches us that in times of crisis, kindness and love reign. For my parents, Merle and Jeanne Perry, who prepared me for a path that could never be foreseen. For my husband, Richard Cooper, who has only ever wanted the best for me. To my daughter, Emma, who will always be my travelling companion. To my son, Ben, who makes us all laugh. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A heartfelt thanks to all the professors, friends, neighbors and family who helped support this project both intellectually and emotionally. I would like to thank my co- chairs, Ruth Dunkle and Judith Irvine, for their support through the project. I would also like to thank Berit Ingersoll-Dayton and other mentors in the School of Social Work such as Letha Chadiha and Michael Reisch. Only as I leave the School of Social Work at Michigan am I truly amazed at the training and resources available. Job Club particularly has been a wonderful experience in professionalization and I have appreciated the comradery there. In Anthropology, I would like to thank Webb Keane and Holly Peters- Golden for supporting me through such a complex project. I leave with a deep appreciation for the ethnographic method. My particular love for linguistic anthropology at U of M accompanies me to my next institution. Thanks to all my friends and colleagues through the years at Ling Lab, and for the intellectual support at Michicagoan conferences. I’ve been privileged to know many wonderful colleagues, the social work and anthropology students and the very few, who intersect both on this campus. On a personal note, I’ve had many friends in the community who have helped me through this degree—from bringing me dinner the night of a job talk to watching my kids so I could make it to campus. I will remember these acts of kindness. In particular, I would like to thank Norm and Anne Cox, Lisa Jacobs and George Bennett. I would like to thank all my babysitters along the way, Priscilla Carrozzi, Miss Anne and Miss Cathy, Bette, Rose Wall and Ian Cox. And special thanks to Tezra Jennings, Adrienne Call, Adenike Griffin and Michael Lin for helping the project seem manageable. I end where the project began, thanking all the older clients, and research participants that have given me glimpses of issues and concerns of aging. Thank you and Namaste. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication……………………………………………………………………………….ii Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………..iii Lists of Figures………………………………………………………………….........…..x List of Photos……………………………………………………………………………xi List of Appendices……………………………………………………………………..xiii Abstract………………………………………………………………………………...xiv Chapter One: Introduction………………………………………………………………….1 1.1 Overview of Project…………………………………………………...4 1.2 Project Description………………………..………………………….11 1.2.1 Aims of the Project………………………………………...11 1.2.2 Contributions of Project to Gerontology and Social Work..12 1.2.3 Contributions to Anthropology………………………...….14 1.2.4 Study Site………………………………………………….14 1.2.5 Study Design……………...……………………………….15 1.2.6 Study Sample……………………………………………...16 1.2.7 Sample Recruitment……………………………………….19 1.2.8 Diversity Within Sample……………...…………………...19 1.2.9 Sample Limitations………………………………………...20 1.3 Data Collection………………………………………………………22 1.3.1 Establishing Validity of Data……………………………...26 1.3.2 Analytical Approaches…………………………………………….27 1.4 Conclusion and Roadmap…………………………………………...27 Two: Voluntary Moves as Strategy: Decisions about functioning………….........34 iv 2.1 Introduction………………………………………………………..34 2.2 Strategic Decision-Making: Selection, Optimization with Compensation……………………………………………………...35 2.3 Application of SOC Model to Project……………………………..38 2.3.1 SOC Application: Living in a Less Demanding Environment………………………………………..….…….39 2.4 Applications of the SOC Model to a Network……………....…….42 2.5 Intersections of SOC Model and Gift-giving………………….…..42 2.6 Aging Bodies: Strategic Alterations……………………………….44 2.7 Understanding Relocations………………………………………...48 2.8 Moving Decisions: Strategic Reactions to Health Concerns……....52 2.9 Application of Theoretical Frameworks…………………………...54 2.10 Conclusion ……………………………...……………………......55 Three: Contexts and Reactions………… ………….………………………….56 3.1 Introduction……………………………..…………………………56 3.2 Study Contexts……………..……………………………………...57 3.2.1 Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on Study Participants………………………………………………57 3.2.2 Availability of Senior Housing…………………..….…...62 3.3 Reactions to Contexts: Patterns and Processes of Moving………...63 3.3.1 Awaiting Options………………………………………..63 3.2.2 Varied Process of Moving………………..………….......64 3.3.3 Relationships Between Buyers and Sellers: Spatial Stewardship……………...................................................69 3.4 Application of Theoretical Frameworks…………………………..79 3.5 Conclusion…………………...………………………………….....80 v Four: Moving as a Gift…………………………...………………..………….82 4.1 Introduction………………….…………….……………………...83 4.2 Complexity of Moving…………………….………………………87 4.3 A Gift to Oneself…………………………………………………..87 4.3.1 A Gift to Oneself: Navigating Spaces…………………...87 4.3.1 A Gift to Oneself: Freedom From Home Maintenance…90 4.3.2 A Gift to Oneself: Enjoying the Fruits of One’s Labor…99 4.4 A Gift to One’s Partner…………………………………………..101 4.4.1 A Gift to One’s Partner: Partner’s Desire to Move……101 4.4.2 A Gift to One’s Partner: Honor Partner………………..107 4.5 A Gift to One’s Kin………………………………………………110 4.5.1 A Gift to One’s Kin: Peace of Min…………………......110 4.5.2 A Gift to One’s Kin: Freedom ………………..…….….113 4.5.3 A Gift to One’s Kin: Ease of Caregiving…………….....115 4.6 Application of Theoretical Frameworks………………………….116 4.6.1 Relationship to Gift-giving……………………………..118 4.7 Conclusion: Moves of Older Adults……………………………..118 Five: Moving as an Imagined Future...……………………………………….119 5.1 Introduction……………………………………………….............119 5.2 Philosophy Behind Personalizing a House: Make it One’s Home..123 5.3 Moving as a Time to Project Future Self…………………………126 5.3.1 Emotional Projection…………………………………....126 5.3.2 Health Projection………………………………………..128 5.3.3 Financial Projection……………………………………..128 5.4 Imagined Future: Personalizing Spaces as a Gift to Oneself…......129 vi 5.4.1 Porous Definitions……..……………………………….130 5.4.2 Modifications to Promote Choice………………………134 5.4.3 Modifications to Compensate for Present or Future Physical Challenges…………………….............……….145 5.4.4 Modifications to Promote Function……………….…….147 5.4.5 Modifications Based on Other Moves and Other Spaces…...........................................................................149 5.5 Application of Theoretical Frameworks…………………………..152 5.6 Conclusion……………………………………………………........155 Six: Complications and Anxieties……………………………………………..157 6.1 Introduction…………………………………………………..........157 6.2 Dismantling a Household: Memories and Attachments…………..157 6.3 Dismantling a Household: Marks of Distinction………………….162 6.4 Dismantling a Household: Bargains to be Had……………………167 6.5 Dismantling a Household: Packing up Possessions……….............169 6.6 Redefining Roles, Redefining Spaces……………………………..177 6.7 Financial Complications: Unaffordability…………………............179 6.8 Financial Complications: Redirecting Resources..………...............186 6.9 Financial Complications: Cost of New Housing………………….192 6.9.1 Epilogue……………………………………….................196 6.10 Anxieties at Play……………………………………………….....198 6.11 Application of Theoretical Frameworks……………………….....199 6.12 Conclusion………………………………………………………..201 Seven: Unanticipated Adjustments…….……………………………….……..202 7.1 Unanticipated Adjustments…………………………………..…... 202 vii 7.2 Adjustment: Age-graded Living Environments………………….202 7.2.1 Questionable Characteristics: Is this Senior Living?......207 7.3 Adjustment: Transition From Home Owner to Renter………......212 7.4 Adjustment: Aesthetics of Home…………………………………215 7.4.1 Resident Wishes: Screen Doors………………………..217 7.5 Adjustment: Not like I’d do it…………………………………....219 7.5.1 The Custom Rental Paradox………………...…………220 7.6 Adjustment: Community Formation……………………………..221 7.7 Adjustments of Kin Network: Enchained Obligations…………..222 7.8 Application of Theoretical Frameworks………………………....237 7.9 Moving as Liminality…………………………………………….230 7.10 Conclusion………………….…………………………………...232 Eight: Conclusion……………………………………..………………….…..233 8.1 Limitations of Research………………………………………….234 8.1.1 Socioeconomic Homogeneity………………………….235 8.1.2. Racial, Ethnic and Regional Homogeneity…………...236 8.1.3. Pace of Moving Process………………………………237 8.1.4. Voluntarily Moving…………………………………..239 8.2 Significance of Research…………………………………………240 8.2.1 Importance of Language for Social Work……………...241 8.3 Theoretical Contributions of Research…………………………...243 8.3.1 Application of Baltes and Baltes’ Selection, Optimization with Compensation Model to Project….243 8.3.2 SOC Model and Networks……………………..……….245 8.3.2. 1 Optimization from a Network Perspective…...254 viii 8.3.2.2 Compensations from a Network Perspective….247