Living in/dependently: on ageing in place vs. in nursing homes, life satisfaction and future goals of older adults

<ns3:p>Introduction: Polish older adults do not constitute a homogenous group; while seemingly differing from their peers in the past who were concerned with feeling safe, secure and family bonds. The article examines some changes of in/dependent living among older adults through life satisfaction and future goals in the light of ageing in place and ageing in nursing homes.Objectives: Exploring the findings among ageing in place AIP (alone/or with a spouse) or ageing in a nursing home, future goals and life satisfaction. There were 90 participants (half women) at the age of above 65. Educational background and living place were independent variables. The education variable was analysed at three levels: below secondary, secondary, tertiary, but the findings turned out not to be significant and consequently are not presented in the article. The living place variable was analysed at three levels: ageing in place alone, ageing in place with a spouse, living in nursing homes. There are the two dependent variables: the life satisfaction level and having future goals.Materials and methods: As to provide the research with equal study conditions the participants were examined by means of the Barthel Scale and MMSE (adjusted by Joanna Stańczak in 2013). At the subsequent research steps employed was the Future Goals Questionnaire, formulated for the study’s purposes, as well as the Satisfaction with Life Scale (adapted by Zygfryd Juczyński in 2009).Results: Pearson r correlations and one-way ANOVA have demonstrated the findings among ageing in place (AIP) and ageing in nursing homes, future goals and the life satisfaction of older adults.Originality/value: AIP and the possibility for control over life through actualising future goals seem to be one of the key issues of life motivations and life satisfaction amongst older adults.</ns3:p>