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Reworking the Template: The Financial Crisis and Housing Transitions of Older Americans

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The Collective Spirit of Aging Across Cultures

Part of the book series: International Perspectives on Aging ((Int. Perspect. Aging,volume 9))

Abstract

This chapter highlights the impact of the global financial crisis on older Americans who were planning to voluntarily relocate in its aftermath, illustrating how the instability of the world economy played out in the individual lives of older adults within different social, environmental, and economic contexts. Older Americans are “reworking the template,” or reassessing their approaches to analyzing their housing options. Drawing from an ethnographic study (January 2009–May 2012) of older Americans relocating (n = 81), this chapter shows the various ways this population addresses housing concerns including (1) reconfiguring relationships between sellers and buyers (2) rethinking home ownership (3) reconsidering moving and (4) redirecting resources. As the effects of the recession may be long-term and continue to influence actions of older Americans in particular ways, the chapter concludes with suggestions for professionals working with older Americans who are facing these concerns and decisions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    Tam Perry

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  1. Tam Perry
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Correspondence to Tam Perry .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

    Halaevalu F.Ofahengaue Vakalahi

  2. School of Social Work, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

    Gaynell M. Simpson

  3. Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, The City University of New York, New York, New York, USA

    Nancy Giunta

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Perry, T. (2014). Reworking the Template: The Financial Crisis and Housing Transitions of Older Americans. In: Vakalahi, H., Simpson, G., Giunta, N. (eds) The Collective Spirit of Aging Across Cultures. International Perspectives on Aging, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8594-5_14

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