Nuances of social integration within ageing in the right place for housing precarious older adults in independent housing with on-site support

Ageing and Society · 2026-01-01

Abstract Social integration is a critical predictor of health and wellbeing for older people, yet limited research examines how older people experiencing homelessness navigate social integration and what their needs are. This study explores how 20 older adults with lived experiences of homelessness and housing precarity perceive and experience social integration in an independent housing setting with on-site support. Additionally, it aims to identify the factors that facilitate and promote social integration for this population. Drawing on semi-structured lifecourse interviews and photovoice sessions, reflexive thematic analysis identified four key themes: (1) From isolation to inclusion: narratives on social integration; (2) Space, place and social integration; (3) Unlocking pathways to deep and meaningful social interactions; and (4) Navigating social integration: the vital role of autonomy and choice. The findings reveal that social integration exists along a continuum. While some participants valued solitude and independence, others actively sought meaningful connections, or occupied a middle ground, engaging in casual interactions. Social integration was influenced by three factors: the built and natural environment, opportunities for deep and meaningful interactions, and individual autonomy and choice. These findings add to the knowledge and debate surrounding the definition of social integration and its contributory factors, especially for older adults with experiences of homelessness and housing precarity. The study underscores the need for different housing models and environments to accommodate and cater across the social integration continuum, ensuring that everyone can find their place within the community and engage in a way that feels comfortable and fulfilling for them.

“It’s a Guy Thing”: Hegemonic Masculinity and Older Men’s Engagement in Shelter/Transitional Housing Programs

Journal of Gerontological Social Work · 2026-01-05

Men aged 50+ are disproportionately represented among older adults in shelters. Drawing on Connell's theory of hegemonic masculinity, we conducted a secondary qualitative data analysis of interviews with older men in shelters/transitional housing aged 50+ (n = 21) and service providers (n = 15) to understand how older men negotiate support in three Canadian shelters/housing sites. Older men's experiences and behavior that limited support include: 1) choosing isolation; 2) self-reliance; 3) aggression in conflict; and 4) equating support with being less masculine. Older men negotiated support through: 1) social practices that avoided vulnerability; 2) relationship-building with trustworthy providers; 3) creative expression; and 4) service.

The impact of COVID-19 on older people experiencing homelessness

Educational Gerontology · 2025-04-02

Community Consultations to Support Scoping Review Knowledge Dissemination

International Journal of Qualitative Methods · 2025-01-09

Scoping reviews are a valuable form of literature review used to synthesize many types of evidence found in academic literature. Amidst the recommended best practices for conducting scoping reviews, little attention has been given to how to conduct community consultations as part of scoping review processes. The objective of this article is to describe one form that community consultation can take. As the final step in a scoping review project examining the stigmatization and discrimination of persons experiencing homelessness, our research team conducted a community consultation, designed as a Knowledge Café workshop, with 25 participants who had lived experiences of homelessness (past and present) or were service providers in the homelessness sector. The 3-hour workshop was conducted in a central public library with participants seated at different roundtables. The workshop was divided into four discussion periods during which participants described experiences, outcomes, or interventions related to the stigmatization and discrimination of persons experiencing homelessness. At the end of the workshop, participants completed a brief survey about the quality of the workshop, aspects that worked well, and what could be improved. Participants reported appreciating that the workshop provided a forum for combining research findings with personal stories, as well as opportunities to make or revive professional connections. Participants also reported that tangible event outcomes, a more future-oriented focus on solutions, and a longer event would have improved their experience. Study findings contribute to the literature on how to engage with community around collaborative problem-solving and the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives, fostering empathy and inclusivity, and translating ideas into actionable steps.

From the Outside, Looking in: Photovoice as a Transformative Method in Community-Engaged Research

Innovation in Aging · 2025-12-01

Abstract Photovoice is a powerful tool in gerontological research and can bridge the gap between academia and community. Moreover, inviting participants and co-researchers to photograph their lived and embodied realities through photovoice offers researchers meaningful opportunities to learn from participants, while fostering transformative collaborations that challenge the status quo in social research. This paper explores the transformative aspects of photovoice methods in community-engaged research by synthesizing findings from three photovoice studies exploring diverse aging experiences. First, a photovoice study with older people living in temporary supportive housing illuminated the lived realities of housing precarity in later life and spurred arts-based community engagement and advocacy efforts. Second, a photovoice study with family caregivers to persons living in long-term care during COVID-19 lockdowns provided academic team members with glimpses into hidden experiences which would have been otherwise inaccessible. This process also served as a meaningful outlet for caregiver expression and connection during this time. Third, a case study in a suburban neighbourhood during COVID-19 included persons living with dementia as living experts of the embodied realities of dementia while problematizing exclusionary built environments. All three projects illuminate the transformative aspects of photographs in building partnerships and eliciting reflexivity. Findings exemplify the means through which academic and community partners can use photovoice to navigate the insider/outsider status in research and embed elements of advocacy into community-engaged research partnerships. As a critical and transformative method, photovoice can inform policy that is directly influenced by lived experiences to meaningfully address aging and health inequities.

Engaging to Build Readiness for Interprofessional Clinical Practice: Utilizing a Stakeholder Engagement Model to Develop Action Strategies.

PubMed · 2025-01-01

BACKGROUND: To prepare health and social care learners for collaborative care, academic and industry partners must implement interprofessional education and the Interprofessional Education Collaborative's Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice, updated in 2023 (version 3). METHODS: The Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) hosted a Summit using their Stakeholder Engagement Model. During the Summit, we examined the challenges and action strategies between academic and industry partners to better implement the Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice into their learners' education. Data analysis included a quantitative pre-Summit survey and qualitative inductive thematic analysis of Summit discussions. RESULTS: Participants ranked Teams and Teamwork as the most difficult competency to implement. Qualitative results highlighted challenges and strategies related to the healthcare organization, knowledge translation, generational differences, and administrative and financial support. CONCLUSION: Continued partnerships, training, and administrative support are needed to improve the implementation of the core IPEC competencies.

Resilience in Japanese Older Immigrants in Canada and the Role of Community Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology · 2025-03-24 · 5 citations

Japanese people make up a small proportion of the population in Canada, and there are limited resources to meet their specific needs. Thus, older Japanese Canadians were particularly affected by disrupted support and service systems when COVID-19 public health orders were implemented. The objective of this study was to explore how Japanese older immigrants cultivated resilience in overcoming challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and how a community service agency supported the process. In this qualitative study, seven community-dwelling Japanese older immigrants and five agency staff participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were thematically analyzed using a conceptual lens of resilience, which refers to the ability to survive and thrive in the face of adverse life experiences. Our analysis yielded three themes: (1) Challenges and concerns associated with digital literacy, English literacy, COVID-19, and the future; (2) Individual sources of physical, mental, and social resilience; and (3) Agency-supported sources of resilience that enable management of health, safety, and daily life, connection, and belonging. The findings advance our understanding of the ways in which older immigrants cultivate resilience in the face of adversity and how programs and services can help older immigrants cope with adversity to meet their needs. Implications for service provision include ensuring systems are in place to digitally connect older adults to programs, support home maintenance and housekeeping, and engage older adults in the development of new programs.

Site selection criteria for homeless resource centers: A Salt Lake City case study

Cities · 2025-07-08 · 1 citations

This study analyzed the considerations guiding the site selection planning process for the development of Homeless Resource Center (HRC) facilities and programs serving persons experiencing homelessness (PEH). A total of 24 in-depth interviews were conducted with city planners, transportation planners, social workers, homeless service providers, and policy advisors. Findings indicate that key site selection factors included access to transportation and services, the availability and cost of land, and integration into local communities. Those involved in the planning process faced complex tradeoffs—balancing the needs of PEH with broader community concerns, while also navigating contentious political dynamics. The results underscore that thoughtful site selection is critical to enhancing opportunities for PEH, especially in terms of ensuring equitable access to transportation and support services. • Salt Lake City transitioned from a centralized to a decentralized model for homeless shelters through scattered-site Homeless Resource Centers (HRCs). • Community opposition led to the cancellation of one planned HRC, reducing available shelter beds. • Site selection prioritized transit access and integration into neighborhoods but was constrained by land availability and political decisions. • Lack of transit agency involvement during planning resulted in accessibility challenges for persons experiencing homelessness. • The study underscores the need for inclusive planning, transportation justice, and political transparency in decentralized shelter initiatives.

Aging on the Margins: Intersectional and Postcolonial Insights into Older Migrants’ Experiences of Homelessness

Journal of Gerontological Social Work · 2025-11-17

This study explores the lived experiences of older migrants experiencing homelessness (OMEH) in Canada, a population situated at the intersection of multiple structural vulnerabilities. Drawing on interviews with 22 older migrants across eight housing programs in three Canadian cities, the study applies an intersectional postcolonial framework to examine how migration status, age, and systemic exclusion shape participants' sense of community, access to services, and well-being. Findings reveal that while culturally affirming relationships and activities supported a sense of belonging, participants frequently encountered isolation, racism, and depersonalized care environments shaped by neoliberal policy frameworks. Family relationships were described as both sources of support and tension, complicated by migration expectations and intergenerational differences in values. The paper argues that the current housing system often fails to account for the cultural, relational, and structural needs of OMEH and calls for a shift toward culturally responsive and relationship-cantered care models. This research contributes to a growing body of intersectional gerontology and critical homelessness studies by centering the voices of older migrants and highlighting the systemic forces that shape their exclusion and resilience.

Generativity Over the Life Course: A Study of Ethnoculturally Diverse Older Adult Volunteers

Journal of Adult Development · 2025-09-16