[Most desirable is to take care of oneself as long as possible. Transitions into old age with respect to habitation].

In the past, retiring from work life was considered the central threshold for the transition into the life phase of old age. In the meantime, however, the de-standardization of the life course calls for a redefinition of this transition: it has to be assumed that the exit from work life cannot be considered the only indicator for the transition into old age anymore. The results presented here address transitions into old age with respect to habitation. Adopting a qualitative empirical approach, older peoples' attitudes towards housing arrangements in late adulthood and at the end of life were surveyed and analyzed. The article focuses on the interviewees' descriptions regarding their anticipated and preferred housing scenarios which then serve as a basis for the reconstruction of concepts of transition into old age with respect to habitation.