Food, eating and social dynamics in the retirement community

Research has shown that positive dietary practices play a role in preventing morbidity, delaying mortality, and enhancing quality of life. Not as well researched are the dietary behaviors of elderly women. The purpose of this study was to examine how the physical and social environment of a retireme...

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Main Author: L. M. Curch
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Copernicus Publications
Series:Geographica Helvetica
Online Access:http://www.geogr-helv.net/59/279/2004/gh-59-279-2004.pdf
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author L. M. Curch
author_facet L. M. Curch
author_sort L. M. Curch
collection DOAJ
description Research has shown that positive dietary practices play a role in preventing morbidity, delaying mortality, and enhancing quality of life. Not as well researched are the dietary behaviors of elderly women. The purpose of this study was to examine how the physical and social environment of a retirement community without special care ammenities shapes dietary practices among older women. In- depth narrative interviews with 18 female residents allowed insight into their dietary experiences. The consequent analysis identified four levels of influence: 1) ageing factors; 2) resident interaction and roles; 3) the retirement community environment; and 4) economic and political factors. Findings were interpreted in terms of social experiences and structural characteristics of the retirement community that constrain or facilitate dietary practices. These findings provide a better understanding of elderly womens dietary behavior and have implications on quality of life issues for residents of retirement communities.
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spelling doaj.art-7aeade455add4d78af1008b4ca9ccec42022-12-22T02:49:17ZdeuCopernicus PublicationsGeographica Helvetica0016-73122194-879859427928810.5194/gh-59-279-2004Food, eating and social dynamics in the retirement communityL. M. Curch0Ph. D., Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, 418 Fitzelle Hall, State University of New York College at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY 13820, U. S.AResearch has shown that positive dietary practices play a role in preventing morbidity, delaying mortality, and enhancing quality of life. Not as well researched are the dietary behaviors of elderly women. The purpose of this study was to examine how the physical and social environment of a retirement community without special care ammenities shapes dietary practices among older women. In- depth narrative interviews with 18 female residents allowed insight into their dietary experiences. The consequent analysis identified four levels of influence: 1) ageing factors; 2) resident interaction and roles; 3) the retirement community environment; and 4) economic and political factors. Findings were interpreted in terms of social experiences and structural characteristics of the retirement community that constrain or facilitate dietary practices. These findings provide a better understanding of elderly womens dietary behavior and have implications on quality of life issues for residents of retirement communities.http://www.geogr-helv.net/59/279/2004/gh-59-279-2004.pdf
spellingShingle L. M. Curch
Food, eating and social dynamics in the retirement community
Geographica Helvetica
title Food, eating and social dynamics in the retirement community
title_full Food, eating and social dynamics in the retirement community
title_fullStr Food, eating and social dynamics in the retirement community
title_full_unstemmed Food, eating and social dynamics in the retirement community
title_short Food, eating and social dynamics in the retirement community
title_sort food eating and social dynamics in the retirement community
url http://www.geogr-helv.net/59/279/2004/gh-59-279-2004.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT lmcurch foodeatingandsocialdynamicsintheretirementcommunity