Fang, M. L., Woolrych, R., O'Reilly, C., Canham, S., Sixsmith, J. and Sixsmith, A. (2015) Place-making with seniors: transforming affordable housing into home. Paper presented to: International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics European Region (IAGG-ER) Congress 2015, Dublin, Ireland, 23-26 April 2015.
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | Regeneration projects which re-house older people can potentially situate elderly residents in unstable, uncertain circumstances, which include residential eviction, loss of social support networks and access to health and wellbeing resources. Alongside this, the loss of the home as a place of safety and security can create psychological distress. Housing that is not only affordable but also supportive of the psychosocial needs of seniors is essential to the well-being of our ageing population, and this is particularly important in current times when Metro Vancouver is experiencing a significant increase in its older adult population during a period of rapidly rising market rents. This situation threatens housing adequacy for older citizens and places them at risk of isolation as well as social and societal disconnection and retrenchment from community life. Local and regional policy has advocated for affordable housing as a potential solution to provide stable, secure housing for those older people who are at risk of economic eviction. Yet the provision of affordable housing in its built form often overlooks the notion of sense-of-place, defined as the social, psychological and emotional bonds that people have with their environment. Using a community-based participatory research approach, this paper presents findings on how: (i) sense-of-place is experienced by older people relocating into an affordable housing development; (ii) lived experiences can inform the provision of effective formal and informal supports; and (iii) older people and other stakeholders can be located as active ‘place-makers’ in community planning and development. |
| Subjects: |
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF712 Developmental psychology > BF724.55 Older people H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD7287.9 Housing for the elderly H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Women > HQ1060 Aged. Gerontology (Social aspects). Retirement |
| Creators: | Fang, Mei Lan, Woolrych, Ryan, O'Reilly, Caitlin, Canham, Sarah, Sixsmith, Judith and Sixsmith, Andrew |
| Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: |
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Centre > Institute of Health and Wellbeing Research Centres > Centre for Health Sciences and Services |
| Date: | April 2015 |
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Event Title: | International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics European Region (IAGG-ER) Congress 2015 |
| Event Dates: | 23-26 April 2015 |
| Event Location: | Dublin, Ireland |
| Event Type: | Conference |
| Language: | English |
| Status: | Published / Disseminated |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/7791 |
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