Assessing determinants of ageing in place through a capability approach: a qualitative study with older adults in Singapore’s public rental housing

Background Singapore is projected to be super-aged by 2026. Among its older adults, are those living in rental housing who may require a set of different factors to age in place, from their counterparts living in purchased flats. Methods This study seeks to understand the determinants and contexts of Ageing-in-Place (AIP) among older adults in public rental housing, using a capability AIP framework, and grounded in participants’ lived experiences. 66 older adults aged 60 and above (38 male and 28 female), living in 4 southeastern neighbourhoods in Singapore, completed a semi-structured qualitative interview investigating what they need to age well in their community. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and deductive directed content analysis was conducted. Results The findings largely aligned with the AIP framework, emphasising on the interconnectedness of neighbourhood-level physical, social, and environmental factors in shaping older adults’ experience of ageing in the community. This study adds to the AIP framework by identifying additional factors, including availability and accessibility of services and amenities, and schemes and assistance, that are essential for AIP. Conclusion Our refined AIP framework serves to value add to extant AIP gerontology research, by highlighting the various factors influencing older adults’ capability to age well in the community and serve as a useful conceptual tool when designing neighbourhood- and policy-level initiatives to support older adults living in public rental housing.