Factors related to the decision of Aging in Place with future health conditions: Focusing on health status and housing environment

This study aims to explore the association between the current health status and housing environment and the decision to age in place (AIP), taking into account the future health status of older Korean adults. The study utilized data from the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans, with a total sample size of 9,920 participants who conducted a self-report. The results showed that, when maintaining the current health status, the decision of AIP had a statistically significant difference with factors such as education level, having a partner, living situation, residential area, and annual household income. However, when considering a weaker health status, the decision of AIP showed a statistically significant difference with sex, educational level, having a partner, and living situation. The results of the logistic regression analyses revealed that when maintaining the current health status, participants with better subjective health conditions and higher depressive scores were more likely to move to a better housing environment. Also, participants who have lived in a single house, townhouse, and multiplex unit, who are not homeowners, have lower satisfaction with their current house, and have higher needs for services for living in their current house were likely to move to a better housing environment. When having a weaker health status, participants who have lower cognitive status, live in a townhouse and multiplex unit, are not homeowners, have lower satisfaction with their current house, and have higher needs for services for living in their current house were less likely to decide on AIP. The study provided evidence for building a community care system by exploring the association of factors related to the decision of AIP with health status.