“We never lived together either”: Couples' housing (re-) arrangements in later life

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2023.101190
• Publication Date: 2023-11-03T23:48:14Z
• Authors: Julia Piel; Bernt-Peter Robra
• Keywords: Fieldnotes

Social gerontology mainly addresses couples' housing arrangements in later life by focusing on partner's care, related adaptations place, and changing role expectations within the couple relationship. Thereby, resulting image does not fully represent today's diversity of arrangements. This article considers arrangement relationship orientation older couples as entangled social practice, providing a broader perspective dynamics living life. In qualitative study, we conducted joint in-depth interviews with ten from Germany aged 58 to 88 years. Couples talked about their shared biography together today. Data were merged fieldnotes constellations analyzed following documentary method. co-constitute using space different ways. We found three orientations corresponding practices arrangements: balancing physical emotional presence negotiating space, exploring having third common reducing separate housing. These types which are linked spatial (re-) reveal positioning preferences past relationships point societal concepts coupledom regards Space gives options for both being apart feeling close partner, partially at same time. Diversity correspond diversified altering Considering mutually constitutive broadens examine meaning aging together. Moreover, this can be combined critical approach towards stereotypical (hetero-) normative biases research.