Introduction

This chapter considers current influences on and possible future opportunities and challenges to the person–environment relationship. The aim of the chapter is to highlight some of the externalities acting on the person–environment relationship and factors that might play a role in refocusing the way in which we have come to understand place and ageing. This will explore current influences and how these might impact on interpretations and perceptions of place and ageing. In addition, it will address futurefactors that might work to challenge individuals’ emotive and physical attachment to place or equally present new opportunities to advance their relationship with place. These opportunities and challenges are likely to have an impact on the process and experience of ageing.

Influences, opportunities and challenges in current and future place and ageing relationship

Arising from a review of existing research, there are a number of current and future challenges to ‘place and ageing’ research that warrant further discussion. To recap and as previously stated in Chapter Two, place and ageing comprise two concepts – ageing in place and place in ageing. Ageing in place is concerned with understanding the process of ageing in a familiar environment, and place in ageing is interested in the meaning of place in the process of ageing; each interact to influence the other.

The discussion of current influences is meant to highlight some of the intervening factors present in our current understanding and analysis of the relationship between place and ageing. Here we consider the influence of:

• • romanticising place;

• • age, generational and period effects.

Future influences, opportunities and challenges are intended to provide further insight into and debate on how these might effect change or possibly refocus the person–environment relationship in the years to come. Here we consider the impact of:

• • globalisation;

• • technology and communication;

• • the economic downturn.

Current influences

Current influences examine the possible role of four intervening factors in our current interpretation and understanding of the relationship between the individual and their environment. We need to consider that such factors might be underpinning the person–environment interaction and that only through longitudinal research will we come to better understand the role that they play.