Being in the right place: how where we live shapes how we feel
This is the sixth and final post in our Grey Matters series exploring the six pillars of wellbeing in later life. We’ve covered independence, security, staying connected, keeping healthy and active, and having a sense of purpose. Now, we turn to something more grounded, but no less important: place.
Where we live, and how we feel about that place, has a profound impact on our wellbeing. It influences our routines, our relationships, our sense of safety and our ability to stay independent. The right place can support every other pillar. The wrong one can quietly undermine them all.
Why place matters
In our study with UK homeowners aged 70 to 89, 88% said that feeling comfortable and settled at home was important to their wellbeing. But place is more than just a house. It’s the community around it. The walk to the shop. The neighbour who says hello. The doctor you trust. The bus you can still catch.
For older adults, being in the right place means:
Feeling safe and secure
Having access to essential services
Staying connected to people and routines
Being able to manage the home and get around easily
Feeling proud of and comfortable in your surroundings
The impact of place on the other pillars
Place is often the silent enabler of everything else. Independence? That depends on accessible homes and transport. Connection? That’s easier with walkable streets and welcoming spaces. Security, health, purpose - all are shaped by the environment in which a person lives.
When we asked people what made a place feel “right,” many pointed to simple, tangible things: good lighting, a sense of community, nearby nature, friendly faces, familiar routines.
But others spoke about a deeper feeling - of belonging, identity, or continuity. “It just feels like me,” one person said. That emotional resonance with a place can be just as important as its practical features.
When the place no longer fits
Of course, the place that once felt right doesn’t always stay that way. Health needs change. Family moves away. Stairs become harder. The area becomes busier, or quieter, or less familiar.
When the fit between a person and their place starts to shift, it can create friction:
Struggling to maintain a home that’s too big
Feeling isolated in a once-familiar neighbourhood
Facing mobility challenges in a poorly designed property
Worrying about safety, noise, or access to care
In these moments, people often face a difficult choice: stay and adapt, or move and start again.
Why moving is hard, and sometimes necessary
Many older adults are deeply attached to their homes. That makes moving emotionally complex, even when it might improve quality of life. It’s not just about bricks and mortar, it’s about memories, identity, autonomy.
Yet in some cases, staying put can gradually erode wellbeing. Moving to a better-suited home, community or environment can reignite a sense of possibility.
That’s why the design of new later-life living options matters. The more we can create places that feel like home while also enabling better living, the more likely people are to see change as positive rather than daunting.
What makes a place feel right?
From our research and wider conversations, some common themes emerge:
Familiarity: Recognisable routines, shops, accents and landmarks
Proximity: To services, friends, family and nature
Accessibility: Level access, manageable layout, nearby transport
Sociability: Friendly neighbours, welcoming spaces, inclusive communities
Identity: The place feels like a good reflection of who I am
Designers, planners and service providers who understand these levers can shape environments that genuinely support later-life wellbeing.
What services and providers can do
Whether developing housing, planning communities or delivering services, there are practical ways to put place at the heart of design:
Involve older adults in shaping their environments
Focus on small, walkable, well-connected neighbourhoods
Make homes adaptable and easy to personalise
Blend public and private spaces to encourage sociability
Offer housing choices that reflect different lifestyles and identities
It’s not about creating perfect places. It’s about creating the right fit - places that evolve with people as their needs change.
Our view
Being in the right place isn’t just about having a roof over your head. It’s about feeling like you belong, like you’re supported, and like you can keep living life on your terms.
Place underpins every other pillar of wellbeing. It sets the tone for how we live, how we feel, and what we’re able to do. The best places don’t just house us, they enable us.
As we wrap up this series, the message is clear: later life is not a retreat, but a continuation. And with the right support, in the right place, it can be rich, connected, healthy and full of purpose.
source: Boomer + beyond_What's driving wellness_quantitative study