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Housing Instability and Policy Considerations for Equitable Aging in Place in Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2024

C. Michelle Wyndham-West Open the ORCID record for C. Michelle Wyndham-West [Opens in a new window]  and
James R. Dunn
C. Michelle Wyndham-West*
Affiliation:
Graduate Program Director, Inclusive Design and Design for Health, OCAD University, Toronto, ON, Canada
James R. Dunn
Affiliation:
Associate Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Professor, Health, Aging & Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
*
Corresponding author: La correspondance et les demandes de tirésàpart doivent être adressées à : / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: C. Michelle Wyndham-West, Graduate Program Director, Inclusive Design and Design for Health, OCAD University, 205 Richmond Street, Room 303, Toronto, ON M5V 1V3 ([email protected]).
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Abstract

Background

In this article, we apply a gender-based analysis plus framework to research the housing experiences of older, low-income adults living and aging in Hamilton. Low-income older adults with intersectional identities are at risk of not aging in place due to marginalization and housing instability.

Objective

Policy currently homogenizes the experience of aging by sidelining intersectional factors that have a bearing on aging well in place. The research aims to develop policy recommendations to address this gap.

Methods

Several methods captured the housing experiences of low-income older adults, including interviews, participant observation, and arts-based techniques.

Findings

Findings illustrate how gender and intersectional factors shape both housing trajectories and agentive practices low-income adults utilize to try to age well and in place. These strategies encompass practicing cultural citizenship, which is a claim for inclusion when excluded from mainstream ideals of aging in place.

Discussion

We provide policy recommendations informed by participants’ lived experiences aimed at promoting equitable aging in place as fundamental to full citizenship.

Résumé

RésuméContext

Dans cet article, nous rendons compte d’une étude basée sur un cadre d’analyse fondée sur le genre, portant sur les conditions de logement de personnes âgées à faible revenu dans la ville de Hamilton. Les personnes âgées à faible revenu qui ont des identités intersectionnelles risquent de ne pas vieillir à domicile pour des raisons de marginalisation et d’instabilité de logement.

Objectif

Les politiques actuelles homogénéisent le vieillissement en écartant les facteurs intersectionnels qui influent sur le bien vieillir à domicile.

Méthodes

Plusieurs méthodes ont été utilisées pour cerner les conditions de logement de personnes âgées à faible revenu, y compris des entrevues, l’observation des participants et des techniques basées sur les arts.

Résultats

Les conclusions de l’étude illustrent comment le genre et les facteurs intersectionnels façonnent les parcours de logement et les pratiques d’agentivité que les personnes à faible revenu mettent en œuvre pour bien vieillir chez elles. Ces stratégies comprennent la pratique de la citoyenneté culturelle, qui revendique l’inclusion dans le contexte d’idéaux de vieillissement à domicile dominants non inclusifs.

Discussion

À la lumière du vécu des participants, nous énonçons des recommandations pour l’élaboration de politiques visant à promouvoir le vieillissement à domicile équitable en tant qu’aspect fondamental d’une pleine citoyenneté.

Keywords

vieillissementinstabilité du logement/sans-abrismeanalyse fondée sur le genreintersectionnalitévieillir à domicilepolitiques équitablesaginghousing instability/homelessnessgender-based analysisintersectionalityaging in placeequitable policy
Type
Article
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 43 , Issue 4 , December 2024 , pp. 588 - 598
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Copyright
© Canadian Association on Gerontology 2024

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