Making ageing-in-place work

Over recent decades, there have been substantial global shifts in policy and public preferences towards ageing-in-place. This change, while desirable for many older people, also comes with costs, trade-offs and work, placing the onus on individuals, their families and communities to 'make ageing-in-place work' through care, maintenance, and social connection. To understand individuals' agency and capacity in this context, this article examines the practices and perspectives of those ageing in the Scottish city of Dundee through a secondary analysis of three qualitative studies. This re-analysis reveals the unequal realities of ageing-in-place, demonstrating experiences in the home and within place of making and unmaking over time. Detailing how participants foster attachment, investment, and identity in their communities, we demonstrate the factors that shape ageing-in-place over time and the implications for urban renewal and social care policy.