Aging in the Right Place for Older Adults Experiencing Housing Insecurity: An Environmental Assessment of Temporary Housing Program

Atiya Mahmood; Rachelle Patille; Emily Lam; Diana Juanita Mora; Shreemouna Gurung; Gracen Bookmyer; Rachel Weldrick; Habib Chaudhury; Sarah L Canham

doi:10.3390/ijerph192214857

Aging in the Right Place for Older Adults Experiencing Housing Insecurity: An Environmental Assessment of Temporary Housing Program

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 11;19(22):14857. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192214857.

Authors

Atiya Mahmood¹, Rachelle Patille¹, Emily Lam², Diana Juanita Mora², Shreemouna Gurung¹, Gracen Bookmyer¹, Rachel Weldrick¹, Habib Chaudhury¹, Sarah L Canham^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University, 515 West Hastings, Suite 2800, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3, Canada.
² Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
³ College of Social Work, University of Utah, 395 S 1500 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
⁴ College of Architecture and Planning, 375 1530 E, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.

Abstract

Research on programs offering senior-specific housing supports and enabling "aging in the right place" (AIRP) for "older persons with experiences of homelessness" (OPEH) is limited. This paper presents an environmental assessment of a "transitional housing program" (THP) in Metro Vancouver, Canada, for OPEH to AIRP. Data were collected using Aging in the Right Place Environmental (AIRP-ENV) and Secondary Observation (AIRP-ENV-SO) audit tools designed to evaluate multi-unit housing for OPEH. The 241-item AIRP-ENV tool was used to assess the built environmental features of four multi-unit buildings of the THP. The AIRP-ENV-SO tool was used to collect contextual data on the function, safety, and land use of the surrounding neighborhood. Findings identified built environment and urban design features that support THP residents' safety, security, accessibility, functionality, social activity, autonomy, and identity. The THP buildings were rated 'Good' for accessibility, functionality, autonomy and identity, while 'Satisfactory' or 'Poor' for safety, security, and social activity. Findings point to the built environmental features (e.g., size and layout of spaces) required in the THP to create opportunities for increased social engagement among residents and enhanced safety and security. The AIRP-ENV and AIRP-ENV-SO audit tools can help inform programs across the housing continuum to develop supportive built environments that promote AIRP for OPEH.

Keywords: aging in the right place; built environment; homelessness; housing insecurity; older adults.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Housing Instability
Housing*
Humans
Ill-Housed Persons*
Residence Characteristics

Grants and funding

This research was made possible by the Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) jointly funded Partnership Grant (File #: 1004-2019-0006). The opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CMHC or SSHRC. The APC was funded by Simon Fraser University’s Open Access Grant and the CMHC-SSHRC Partnership Grant (File #: 1004-2019-0006).