Prospective RELOC-AGE: How Do Housing Choices and Relocation Matter for Active Ageing?

The objective of prospective RELOC-AGE is to study housing choices and relocation and to examine the effects on active ageing among people aged 55+ considering relocation.

Research Questions

• What aspects of housing, health and participation predict a) relocation to different housing options in the ordinary housing stock; b) residential care facilities; c) remaining in the present dwelling?
• How is the complex interaction between objective and perceived aspects of housing, health and participation associated with active ageing, and what are the patterns and characteristics of such dynamics?
• What housing attributes do people aged 55+ considering relocation find important, and to what extent, when making their decisions on housing preferences?
• How do people aged 55+ considering relocation reason a) regarding different housing options; b) motives for considering and effectuating relocation, and; c) to what extent are their motives fulfilled?

The sample will include people aged 55+ considering relocation. Recruitment will be made from a sub-sample based on waiting lists (n=22 000) among three housing companies in Sweden: Karlshamnsbostäder AB, Örebrobostäder AB, and Riksbyggen. The expected final sample size is n=3000. Quantitative data will be collected through a web survey and one telephone interview at baseline (2021) and by a web survey at follow-ups 2022, 2024, 2026 and 2028. Data on primary and secondary outcomes are based on established questionnaires used in previous research on older people, health, and housing as well as in national public health surveys in Sweden. In addition to primary and secondary outcomes (presented below), the surveys include demographic and socioeconomic characteristics including civil status, education level, economic situation, occupational status, holding a driver license, critical life events (e.g., death of spouse, long-term disease, divorce), original nationality; questions about present housing situation (dwelling characteristics (e.g., type and size of dwelling, location) and neighborhood characteristics (e.g., access to services and green areas), potential and realized mobility, social/cohabiting situation, time spent at home, housing adaptations); use of technical aids for mobility, use of health, social and informal care, thoughts about future housing, reasons related to consideration about relocating and moving intentions. Data on stated preferences in relation to housing will be collected in a specific survey based on a discrete choice methodology. Qualitative interviews will be conducted consecutively with a subsample (n=100) of respondents who have relocated during the follow-up period. Further, linking to register data will be made within the scope of Register RELOC-AGE, which is another part of the larger project.

For quantitative data, descriptive, exploratory, and inferential statistics will be used. For longitudinal analyses, generalized linear models or Cox regression with time-dependent covariates will be applied. Throughout, we will control for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and other potential confounders and compare the results across different cohorts. Quantitative analyses will be conducted using standard statistical software. For analyses of DCE data, we will use the conditional logit model (also referred to as the multinomial logit model) as the reference model, but the analysis will be extended to mixed logit and latent class models to take preference heterogeneity into account. Qualitative interviews will be audio-recorded and transc¬ribed verbatim and principles from Grounded Theory will be used for the analysis.

Inclusion criteria

• Persons 55 years or older, living in Sweden, listed for relocation at any of the three housing companies Karlshamnsbostäder and Örebrobostäder (public housing companies) and Riksbyggen (a condominium provider)

Exclusion criteria

• Severe cognitive impairments or insufficient language skills to give informed consent and participate in telephone interviews