The Change is Personal: Perceptions of Neighborhood Decline Among African American Women Aging in Place

Despite the concerted effort to study neighborhoods and their effects, there has been less attention paid to the direct accounts of these processes from residents themselves. This study explores the narratives of older African American women who have aged in place within urban neighborhoods from childhood through later life. Data is utilized from six years of ethnographic observations within two community centers located in Cleveland, Ohio and in-depth, life history interviews with 12 African American women (Mean Age: 72.5). Inductive thematic analysis revealed three themes. These include perceptions related to 1) institutional decline, 2) changes in safety and crime and, 3) changes in neighborhood population. The women's narratives highlight that change is deeply personal. Their perceptions of decline were connected to their biography and how the decline disrupted and re-shaped their daily routines. Studying perceptions of decline is important for better understanding personal experiences of place for under-represented older adults.