The Effect of the Residential Environment of the Elderly on Aging in Place: Focusing on Comparison of Regions

This study aims to investigate the influence of the residential environment on Aging in Place for the elderly. It also acknowledges that the effects of residential environment factors on Aging in Place might vary due to regional differences between urban and rural areas. Consequently, the study seeks to establish an empirical approach considering regional characteristics, assessing whether the residential environment in each area supports elderly individuals in maintaining their community living. The analysis utilized data from the 2020 Elderly Survey, encompassing 8,878 participants, including 6,541 elderly residents from urban settings and 2,337 from rural areas. Results indicated that rural seniors exhibited a stronger preference for Aging in Place, with 65.3% compared to 61.7% among urban counterparts, highlighting their inclination towards remaining within their local community. Urban areas indicated higher satisfaction with the physical environment, while rural areas showed greater contentment with the social environment, particularly community relationships. Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that urban elderly individuals were more likely to opt for Aging in Place when they reported higher housing satisfaction, better accessibility to the external environment, and limited opportunities for social interaction with neighbors. In rural areas, a higher likelihood of choosing community-based living was observed when housing satisfaction, active participation in social activities, and community relationship satisfaction were greater. In light of these findings, it is advisable to develop policies aligned with the unique characteristics of urban and rural contexts, aiming to facilitate Aging in Place among the elderly population.