Scientific project management:
Prof. Dr. Kathrin Boerner
Prof. Dr. Daniela S. Jopp
Prof. Dr. Kyungmin Kim

Project duration:
2017-2021 (ongoing data analyses and publications)

Project funding:
1 R21 AG069019, 3R21AG054668; National Institute on Aging (NIA), USA

Project description:
The Boston Aging Together Study is part of an international research program on the life situation of very old parents and their "old children" (comparative studies in the USA, Switzerland, and South Korea). Our sample consists of 114 parent-child dyads (parent ≥ 90; child ≥ 65) from the greater Boston area with whom we conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews. Our mixed-method data collection focused on the parent-child relationship, as well as parent/child health, life and care situation, and daily life experiences/coping. In addition, interviews were conducted with 100 children (≥ 65) who cared for a parent with dementia. Several articles on findings have already been published, but further data analyses and manuscript preparation are still in progress.

https://blogs.umb.edu/gerontologyinstitute/2022/02/16/the-challenges-and-benefits-of-caring-for-very-old-parents-while-aging-yourself/

www.nytimes.com/2019/06/27/business/retirement-parents-aging-living-to-100.html

Kim, Y. K., Kim, K., Jopp, D. S., & Boerner, K. (2023). Dyadic analysis of very old parents’ and their children’s interdependence and self-perceptions of aging. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 40(1), 311-332. doi.org/10.1177/02654075221118032

Boerner, K., Kim, Y. K., Gallagher, E., Kim, K., & Jopp, D. S. (2022). “I’m getting older too”: Challenges and benefits experienced by very old parents and their children. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 41(3), 769-779. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648211016113

Boerner, K., Kim, K., Kim, Y. K, & Jopp, D. S. (2022). Support exchanges among very old parents and their children: Findings from the Boston Aging Together Study. The Gerontologist, 62(3), 375–384. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnab043