Determinants of Aging in Place Willingness Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Thailand: Results of a National Survey

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and determinants of aging in place (AIP) willingness among persons 60 years and older in a national cross-sectional community-based study in Thailand in 2022. Methods: Information was taken from the 2022 Health, Aging, and Retirement in Thailand survey. Only community-dwelling individuals aged 60 and above were included in the sample (analytic sample: n = 3648). AIP willingness was measured using established metrics. The factors influencing AIP willingness were evaluated using logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of AIP willingness was 88.3%. Logistic regressions showed that predisposing factors (increasing age, being retired, and female sex), enabling factors (satisfactory support from children), need factors (multimorbidity, fewer depressive symptoms, and fewer pain sites), and psychosocial factors (not agreeing on an elderly home, higher subjective life expectancy, and current non-smoking) were associated with AIP willingness. Conclusions: Our knowledge of the factors influencing AIP willingness in community-living people 60 years of age and older is improved by this national study. Health and welfare strategies to increase enabling factors (satisfactory support from children), decrease need factors (depression and multisite pain), and increase psychosocial factors (positive attitudes towards AIP and smoking cessation) may help in increasing AIP willingness.