Experiences of Aging, Kinship, Death, and Independence in an Independent Living Facility Open Access

Abstract

The field of anthropology of aging is relevant now more than ever as the population of the United States is both growing bigger and living longer than past generations. This increase in lifespan has been achieved through a combination of environmental changes, advances in medicine and technology, and lifestyle changes. There exists a growing population of individuals requiring more direct care in late life, and thus an increase in the population residing in full-time independent or assisted living communities. As a result of this particular demographic’s growth, there is an increased need for research into the concerns and experiences of older people in order to provide care in more efficient and effective ways. The field of anthropology is poised especially well to provide a useful framework for questions about aging and life in age-segregated communities through a focus on the everyday experiences of individuals. By combining medical and biological knowledge with this anthropological perspective, this thesis will attempt to orient aging in terms of individual experiences. This thesis will attempt to answer the question “How do people experience aging, kinship, care, independence, and death in an independent living or formal care community?” through an evaluation of both perceptions and experiences of residents in a long-term independent living facility. This thesis will additionally attempt to fill a gap in existing literature relating to the positive relationship between functional dependence of older people and their perceptions of their own independence within an independent living community. It is my hope that this research can contribute to tailoring care and services within independent living environments by studying residents’ everyday needs, experiences, conflicts, hardships, and victories through an ethnographic lens.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1

I.              Anthropology as an Approach to Studying Aging …………………………………………………………. 1

II.             Personal Interest …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3

Chapter 2: A Review of the Literature on Aging, Care, Independence, and Sociality in the United States ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7

I.              Studies of Aging …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7

II.             Age-Segregated Housing ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 9

III.           Identity Outside of the Workforce ………………………………………………………….………………….. 11

IV.           Experiencing Time through Losses and Gains …………………………………………………………….. 12

V.            Social Connectivity Theories ………………………………………………………………………………………. 15

VI.           Kinship and Dependence in Late Life ………………………………………………………………………….. 18

VII.         Perspectives on Death and Dying ………………………………………………………………………………. 20

VIII.        Concluding Thoughts on the Review of the Literature: The Need for Attention to Dependence and Independence …………………………………………………………………………… 21

Chapter 3: Methodology ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23

I.              Ethnographic Site – Pinewood ………………………………………………………………………………….… 23

II.             Ethnographic Methods ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 28

Chapter 4: “Susan” ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 33

Chapter 5: Ethnography ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 42

I.              Pinewood as a Social Space ………………………………………………………………………………….……. 42

II.             Shifting Family Relationships ……………………………………………………………………………………… 44

III.           “If you’re lonely here it’s because you’re not doing it right.” – Loneliness …………………. 48

IV.           Privacy and Gossip ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 54

V.            “Just take us to a table for four and bring us somebody fun!” – The Dining Room as the Epicenter of Social Life at Pinewood …………………………………………………………………….. 57

VI.           Physical Health – Exercise and Nutrition ……………………………………………………………………. 59

VII.         Care – The Intersection of Dependence and Independence ……………………………………….. 62

VIII.        “Old age sucks, but the alternative is worse!” – Death …………………………………………. 65

Chapter 6: Implications, Limitations, and Directions for Future Research ……………………………… 70

Chapter 7: Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….… 73

Bibliography …………………………………......................................................................................................... 76

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Anthropology
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Gerontology Health Sciences, Aging Anthropology, Cultural
Keyword	independent living age-segregation aging
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Dr. Kristin Phillips, Emory University
Committee Members	Dr. Ellen Idler, Emory University Dr. Michael Peletz, Emory University

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