Atiya Mahmood
Biographic Data
| ID | 3582479 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Atiya Mahmood |
| GIVEN NAMES | Atiya |
| FAMILY NAME | Mahmood |
| SIGNATURE | MAHMOOD A |
| AFFILIATIONS | Simon Fraser University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4986-0979 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 27 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 142 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 27 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
The impact of Covid-19 on older people experiencing homelessness
As a unique population with distinct needs, older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH) have confronted significant challenges since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is limited understanding of how OPEH were affected by the pandemic. Given the vulnerabilities of this population and the paucity of existing research on this topic, we examined how OPEH staying in a temporary housing program in Vancouver, BC were impacted by COVID…
My Purpose Drives Me Forward: Sense of Purpose and Thinking About the Future in Daily Life
A sense of purpose in life may promote health by fostering a future-oriented perspective, but little research has examined whether purposeful individuals think more about the future in everyday life, or whether this varies by age. This study investigated links between sense of purpose, age, future-oriented thinking, and physical activity. A total of 256 younger and older adults in Canada and Hong Kong ( M age = 48.0, SD = 24.6, range = 18–85; 68%…
Integrating neighbourhood walkability perceptions of people living with dementia in urban design and planning in British Columbia, Canada
Urban design and planning play an important role in supporting the out-of-home activity participation of people living with dementia. Studies show discrepancies in planners' understanding of the perceptions, motivations, and needs of people living with dementia related to environmental support. This study explores 1) how people living with dementia perceive neighbourhood environmental support for outdoor walking, and 2) how the recommendations fo…
Nuances of social integration within ageing in the right place for housing precarious older adults in independent housing with on-site support
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 …
Transforming long-term care: Understanding relationship-centered care practices in ethno-specific context
Culturally responsive care is essential to meaningful relationship-building in long-term care (LTC) settings, yet there is limited understanding of how Relationship-Centered Care (RCC) is interpreted and enacted in contexts shaped by shared cultural frameworks. This critical ethnographic study examines how RCC practices unfolded within an ethno-specific LTC home serving predominantly Chinese older adults in Vancouver, drawing on document review, …
A qualitative examination of the challenges and needs during hospital discharge for people with lived experience of homelessness
People with lived or living experiences of homelessness (PWLEH) have higher rates of chronic and acute health problems and present to hospitals at a higher rate than their housed counterparts. Limited research has explored how PWLEH characterize their own discharge experiences. To improve hospital discharge processes and policies for PWLEH, this qualitative study conducted a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 20 PWLEH in Metro V…
Perspectives of municipal professionals on adopting a dementia-friendly and inclusive approach in urban planning and design in British Columbia, Canada
An accessible and navigable neighbourhood physical environment is a critical part of dementia-friendly and inclusive communities (DFCs). Municipalities in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada have committed to the vision of DFCs with action plans outlining priorities in planning, design, engineering, and services. City planners and designers play an instrumental role in implementing these plans. Our study aims to understand their needs and challenges …
Exploring the awareness of changes in outdoor mobility and the influence of the neighbourhood environment among people living with dementia in British Columbia, Canada
Exploring people’s awareness of age and disease related changes (AADRC) offers unique insights into how people living with dementia form experiential knowledge. • The transition into living with dementia is marked by changing mobility-related needs and priorities, and adapting to changing walking abilities to maintain out-of-home activity. • People living with dementia become increasingly aware of physical and social risk factors in the neighbour…
Exploring Accessibility in Three Quebec Parks, Canada for People with Disabilities
A user-led audit of the walkability and wheelability of Quebec City’s neighborhoods by mobility assistive technology users
For mobility assistive technology (MAT) users, environmental obstacles or helpful elements can make the difference between disabling situations and social participation. User led environmental evaluations can highlight difficulties MAT users experience, which can inform changes to the built and social environment. This study used the Stakeholders' Walkability/Wheelability Audit in Neighbourhood People with Disabilities (SWAN-PDW) to identify obse…
Anchoring into Space: A Reflexive Approach for Attending to Trauma When Engaging in Research with Older Persons with Experiences of Homelessness
Reflexivity, which requires the conscious appraisal of how researchers’ social positions and subjectivities interact with the research process, has become increasingly popular in qualitative research with participants at heightened risk of marginalization and trauma histories. Despite the documented traumas associated with marginalization, little has been written about the process of integrating a reflexive approach into research with marginalize…
Creating inclusive and healthy communities for all: A photovoice approach with adults with mobility limitations
This study used photovoice to document the lived experience of 30 people with mobility limitations regarding their interactions with the urban environment and how it affected their mobility, participation and health. Our analysis identified five themes: 1) En Route, 2) Thresholds, 3) Temporal Rhythms, 4) Making Change Happen and 5) The Paradox of Accessibility. Our findings emphasize how accessibility exists along a continuum, which acknowledges …
Aging in the Right Place for Older Adults Experiencing Housing Insecurity: An Environmental Assessment of Temporary Housing Program
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 desi…
A right place for everybody”: Supporting aging in the right place for older people experiencing homelessness
While policies and practices that promote aging in place have risen in prominence over the last two decades, marginalised older adults have largely been overlooked. 'Aging in the right place' is a concept that recognises the importance of adequate and appropriate age-related health and psychosocial supports in shelter/housing settings and their impact on the ability of older people to age optimally. To understand the unique shelter/housing challe…
Shelter/housing options, supports and interventions for older people experiencing homelessness
While experiences of later-life homelessness are known to vary, classification of shelter, housing and service models that meet the diverse needs of older people with experiences of homelessness (OPEH) are limited. To address this gap, a scoping review was conducted of shelter/housing options, supports and interventions for OPEH. Fourteen databases were searched for English-language peer-reviewed and/or empirical literature published between 1999…
Using photovoice to increase social inclusion of people with disabilities: Reflections on the benefits and challenges
The aim of this study was to understand the mobility experiences of mobility device users regarding the environmental and social barriers and facilitators in their community and to discuss the benefits and challenges of using photovoice, as a participatory methodology, to increase social participation for people with disabilities. Photovoice was used with mobility device users ( n = 70) in two different locations in Canada. The participants took …
Everyday Walking Among Older Adults and the Neighborhood Built Environment: A Comparison Between Two Cities in North America
A walkable neighborhood becomes particularly important for older adults for whom physical activity and active transportation are critical for healthy aging-in-place. For many older adults, regular walking takes place in the neighborhood and is the primary mode of mobility. This study took place in eight neighborhoods in Metro Portland (USA) and Metro Vancouver (Canada), examining older adults' walking behavior and neighborhood built environmental…
Examining the Impact of Knowledge Mobilization Strategies to Inform Urban Stakeholders on Accessibility: A Mixed-Methods study
Urban areas offer many opportunities for people with disabilities, but limited accessibility may prevent their full engagement in society. It has been recommended that the experience-based perspective of people with disabilities should be an integral part of the discussion on urban accessibility, complementing other stakeholder expertise to facilitate the design of more inclusive environments. The goals of this mixed-method study were to develop …
Stakeholders Walkability/Wheelability Audit in Neighbourhoods (SWAN): User-led audit and photographic documentation in Canada
The neighbourhood built environment influences mobility and participation of persons using mobility assistive technology (MAT). Documentation of environmental barriers/facilitators by MAT users can enable them to vocalize and advocate their needs. This article presents results from a study with 24 MAT users who collected observational and photographic data on neighbourhood environments in three municipalities in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia,…
Choosing Solitude: Age Differences in Situational and Affective Correlates of Solitude-Seeking in Midlife and Older Adulthood
Findings suggest that compared to middle-aged adults, older adults are more likely to go to locations that match their desired social context, and also that solitude-seeking has more positive ramifications for older adults. Findings are discussed in the context of age differences in activities, social preferences, and emotion regulation
The role of neighborhood physical environment on mobility and social participation among people using mobility assistive technology
This paper presents a systematic literature review on the impact of the neighborhood physical environment on mobility and social participation among people using mobility assistive technology (MAT). Peer-reviewed articles from eight databases published in French or English from 1990 to 2016 were searched. Thirty studies were included in this review. Factors related to neighborhood environmental features, mobility in transit, and accessibility of …
Neighbourhood environment and physical activity in older adults
Til Divorce Do Us Part: Marriage Dissolution in Later Life
Late-life divorce—commonly referred to as gray divorce—is a rising trend that parallels the growth of the older adult population. We sought to gain an in-depth understanding of the experience of marriage dissolution, the divorce process, and life following divorce in a sample of older adults who divorced after more than 20 years of marriage. Qualitative data were collected from 10 divorcees (7 women and 3 men; M age = 63.5) and analyzed to unders…
A photovoice documentation of the role of neighborhood physical and social environments in older adults' physical activity in two metropolitan areas in North America
A Comparative Study on the Effect of Housing Characteristics and Living Arrangements on Well-Being of Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Older Adults in Canada
Based on analyses of three national datasets, this study explored differences in the housing (e.g., homeownership, living arrangement, size, crowding, modification, etc.) and self rated well-being characteristics (physical and mental health, life satisfaction) of immigrant versus non-immigrant older adults in Canada. The variables selected for the analyses in each dataset were slightly different based on their availability in the datasets. Findin…
A photovoice documentation of the role of neighborhood physical and social environments in older adults' physical activity in two metropolitan areas in North America
Neighbourhood environment and physical activity in older adults
The influence of neighborhood residential density, physical and social environments on older adults' physical activity: An exploratory study in two metropolitan areas
The role of neighborhood physical environment on mobility and social participation among people using mobility assistive technology
This paper presents a systematic literature review on the impact of the neighborhood physical environment on mobility and social participation among people using mobility assistive technology (MAT). Peer-reviewed articles from eight databases published in French or English from 1990 to 2016 were searched. Thirty studies were included in this review. Factors related to neighborhood environmental features, mobility in transit, and accessibility of …
Choosing Solitude: Age Differences in Situational and Affective Correlates of Solitude-Seeking in Midlife and Older Adulthood
Findings suggest that compared to middle-aged adults, older adults are more likely to go to locations that match their desired social context, and also that solitude-seeking has more positive ramifications for older adults. Findings are discussed in the context of age differences in activities, social preferences, and emotion regulation
Stakeholders Walkability/Wheelability Audit in Neighbourhoods (SWAN): User-led audit and photographic documentation in Canada
The neighbourhood built environment influences mobility and participation of persons using mobility assistive technology (MAT). Documentation of environmental barriers/facilitators by MAT users can enable them to vocalize and advocate their needs. This article presents results from a study with 24 MAT users who collected observational and photographic data on neighbourhood environments in three municipalities in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia,…
Using photovoice to increase social inclusion of people with disabilities: Reflections on the benefits and challenges
The aim of this study was to understand the mobility experiences of mobility device users regarding the environmental and social barriers and facilitators in their community and to discuss the benefits and challenges of using photovoice, as a participatory methodology, to increase social participation for people with disabilities. Photovoice was used with mobility device users ( n = 70) in two different locations in Canada. The participants took …
Anchoring into Space: A Reflexive Approach for Attending to Trauma When Engaging in Research with Older Persons with Experiences of Homelessness
Reflexivity, which requires the conscious appraisal of how researchers’ social positions and subjectivities interact with the research process, has become increasingly popular in qualitative research with participants at heightened risk of marginalization and trauma histories. Despite the documented traumas associated with marginalization, little has been written about the process of integrating a reflexive approach into research with marginalize…
A right place for everybody”: Supporting aging in the right place for older people experiencing homelessness
While policies and practices that promote aging in place have risen in prominence over the last two decades, marginalised older adults have largely been overlooked. 'Aging in the right place' is a concept that recognises the importance of adequate and appropriate age-related health and psychosocial supports in shelter/housing settings and their impact on the ability of older people to age optimally. To understand the unique shelter/housing challe…
Shelter/housing options, supports and interventions for older people experiencing homelessness
While experiences of later-life homelessness are known to vary, classification of shelter, housing and service models that meet the diverse needs of older people with experiences of homelessness (OPEH) are limited. To address this gap, a scoping review was conducted of shelter/housing options, supports and interventions for OPEH. Fourteen databases were searched for English-language peer-reviewed and/or empirical literature published between 1999…
A Comparative Study on the Effect of Housing Characteristics and Living Arrangements on Well-Being of Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Older Adults in Canada
Based on analyses of three national datasets, this study explored differences in the housing (e.g., homeownership, living arrangement, size, crowding, modification, etc.) and self rated well-being characteristics (physical and mental health, life satisfaction) of immigrant versus non-immigrant older adults in Canada. The variables selected for the analyses in each dataset were slightly different based on their availability in the datasets. Findin…
Work and Home Boundaries: Socio-Spatial Analysis of Women’s Live-Work Environments
This research examined the patterns of living and work arrangements of home-based workers in neighborhoods of different socio-economic composition in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Forty participants were interviewed from three study areas—an economically depressed area with a predominantly African-American population, a mixed-income neighborhood with an ethnically heterogeneous population, and a middle-income neighborhood with a predominantly White popul…
Work and Home Boundaries: Socio-Spatial Analysis of Women’s Live-Work Environments
This research examined the patterns of living and work arrangements of home-based workers in neighborhoods of different socio-economic composition in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Forty participants were interviewed from three study areas—an economically depressed area with a predominantly African-American population, a mixed-income neighborhood with an ethnically heterogeneous population, and a middle-income neighborhood with a predominantly White popul…
A Comparative Study on the Effect of Housing Characteristics and Living Arrangements on Well-Being of Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Older Adults in Canada
Based on analyses of three national datasets, this study explored differences in the housing (e.g., homeownership, living arrangement, size, crowding, modification, etc.) and self rated well-being characteristics (physical and mental health, life satisfaction) of immigrant versus non-immigrant older adults in Canada. The variables selected for the analyses in each dataset were slightly different based on their availability in the datasets. Findin…
The influence of neighborhood residential density, physical and social environments on older adults' physical activity: An exploratory study in two metropolitan areas
A photovoice documentation of the role of neighborhood physical and social environments in older adults' physical activity in two metropolitan areas in North America
Til Divorce Do Us Part: Marriage Dissolution in Later Life
Late-life divorce—commonly referred to as gray divorce—is a rising trend that parallels the growth of the older adult population. We sought to gain an in-depth understanding of the experience of marriage dissolution, the divorce process, and life following divorce in a sample of older adults who divorced after more than 20 years of marriage. Qualitative data were collected from 10 divorcees (7 women and 3 men; M age = 63.5) and analyzed to unders…
Neighbourhood environment and physical activity in older adults
Choosing Solitude: Age Differences in Situational and Affective Correlates of Solitude-Seeking in Midlife and Older Adulthood
Findings suggest that compared to middle-aged adults, older adults are more likely to go to locations that match their desired social context, and also that solitude-seeking has more positive ramifications for older adults. Findings are discussed in the context of age differences in activities, social preferences, and emotion regulation
The role of neighborhood physical environment on mobility and social participation among people using mobility assistive technology
This paper presents a systematic literature review on the impact of the neighborhood physical environment on mobility and social participation among people using mobility assistive technology (MAT). Peer-reviewed articles from eight databases published in French or English from 1990 to 2016 were searched. Thirty studies were included in this review. Factors related to neighborhood environmental features, mobility in transit, and accessibility of …
Stakeholders Walkability/Wheelability Audit in Neighbourhoods (SWAN): User-led audit and photographic documentation in Canada
The neighbourhood built environment influences mobility and participation of persons using mobility assistive technology (MAT). Documentation of environmental barriers/facilitators by MAT users can enable them to vocalize and advocate their needs. This article presents results from a study with 24 MAT users who collected observational and photographic data on neighbourhood environments in three municipalities in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia,…
Everyday Walking Among Older Adults and the Neighborhood Built Environment: A Comparison Between Two Cities in North America
A walkable neighborhood becomes particularly important for older adults for whom physical activity and active transportation are critical for healthy aging-in-place. For many older adults, regular walking takes place in the neighborhood and is the primary mode of mobility. This study took place in eight neighborhoods in Metro Portland (USA) and Metro Vancouver (Canada), examining older adults' walking behavior and neighborhood built environmental…
Examining the Impact of Knowledge Mobilization Strategies to Inform Urban Stakeholders on Accessibility: A Mixed-Methods study
Urban areas offer many opportunities for people with disabilities, but limited accessibility may prevent their full engagement in society. It has been recommended that the experience-based perspective of people with disabilities should be an integral part of the discussion on urban accessibility, complementing other stakeholder expertise to facilitate the design of more inclusive environments. The goals of this mixed-method study were to develop …
Using photovoice to increase social inclusion of people with disabilities: Reflections on the benefits and challenges
The aim of this study was to understand the mobility experiences of mobility device users regarding the environmental and social barriers and facilitators in their community and to discuss the benefits and challenges of using photovoice, as a participatory methodology, to increase social participation for people with disabilities. Photovoice was used with mobility device users ( n = 70) in two different locations in Canada. The participants took …
Creating inclusive and healthy communities for all: A photovoice approach with adults with mobility limitations
This study used photovoice to document the lived experience of 30 people with mobility limitations regarding their interactions with the urban environment and how it affected their mobility, participation and health. Our analysis identified five themes: 1) En Route, 2) Thresholds, 3) Temporal Rhythms, 4) Making Change Happen and 5) The Paradox of Accessibility. Our findings emphasize how accessibility exists along a continuum, which acknowledges …
Aging in the Right Place for Older Adults Experiencing Housing Insecurity: An Environmental Assessment of Temporary Housing Program
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 desi…
A right place for everybody”: Supporting aging in the right place for older people experiencing homelessness
While policies and practices that promote aging in place have risen in prominence over the last two decades, marginalised older adults have largely been overlooked. 'Aging in the right place' is a concept that recognises the importance of adequate and appropriate age-related health and psychosocial supports in shelter/housing settings and their impact on the ability of older people to age optimally. To understand the unique shelter/housing challe…
Shelter/housing options, supports and interventions for older people experiencing homelessness
While experiences of later-life homelessness are known to vary, classification of shelter, housing and service models that meet the diverse needs of older people with experiences of homelessness (OPEH) are limited. To address this gap, a scoping review was conducted of shelter/housing options, supports and interventions for OPEH. Fourteen databases were searched for English-language peer-reviewed and/or empirical literature published between 1999…
A user-led audit of the walkability and wheelability of Quebec City’s neighborhoods by mobility assistive technology users
For mobility assistive technology (MAT) users, environmental obstacles or helpful elements can make the difference between disabling situations and social participation. User led environmental evaluations can highlight difficulties MAT users experience, which can inform changes to the built and social environment. This study used the Stakeholders' Walkability/Wheelability Audit in Neighbourhood People with Disabilities (SWAN-PDW) to identify obse…
Anchoring into Space: A Reflexive Approach for Attending to Trauma When Engaging in Research with Older Persons with Experiences of Homelessness
Reflexivity, which requires the conscious appraisal of how researchers’ social positions and subjectivities interact with the research process, has become increasingly popular in qualitative research with participants at heightened risk of marginalization and trauma histories. Despite the documented traumas associated with marginalization, little has been written about the process of integrating a reflexive approach into research with marginalize…
Transforming long-term care: Understanding relationship-centered care practices in ethno-specific context
Culturally responsive care is essential to meaningful relationship-building in long-term care (LTC) settings, yet there is limited understanding of how Relationship-Centered Care (RCC) is interpreted and enacted in contexts shaped by shared cultural frameworks. This critical ethnographic study examines how RCC practices unfolded within an ethno-specific LTC home serving predominantly Chinese older adults in Vancouver, drawing on document review, …
A qualitative examination of the challenges and needs during hospital discharge for people with lived experience of homelessness
People with lived or living experiences of homelessness (PWLEH) have higher rates of chronic and acute health problems and present to hospitals at a higher rate than their housed counterparts. Limited research has explored how PWLEH characterize their own discharge experiences. To improve hospital discharge processes and policies for PWLEH, this qualitative study conducted a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 20 PWLEH in Metro V…
Perspectives of municipal professionals on adopting a dementia-friendly and inclusive approach in urban planning and design in British Columbia, Canada
An accessible and navigable neighbourhood physical environment is a critical part of dementia-friendly and inclusive communities (DFCs). Municipalities in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada have committed to the vision of DFCs with action plans outlining priorities in planning, design, engineering, and services. City planners and designers play an instrumental role in implementing these plans. Our study aims to understand their needs and challenges …
Exploring the awareness of changes in outdoor mobility and the influence of the neighbourhood environment among people living with dementia in British Columbia, Canada
Exploring people’s awareness of age and disease related changes (AADRC) offers unique insights into how people living with dementia form experiential knowledge. • The transition into living with dementia is marked by changing mobility-related needs and priorities, and adapting to changing walking abilities to maintain out-of-home activity. • People living with dementia become increasingly aware of physical and social risk factors in the neighbour…
Exploring Accessibility in Three Quebec Parks, Canada for People with Disabilities
The impact of Covid-19 on older people experiencing homelessness
As a unique population with distinct needs, older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH) have confronted significant challenges since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is limited understanding of how OPEH were affected by the pandemic. Given the vulnerabilities of this population and the paucity of existing research on this topic, we examined how OPEH staying in a temporary housing program in Vancouver, BC were impacted by COVID…
My Purpose Drives Me Forward: Sense of Purpose and Thinking About the Future in Daily Life
A sense of purpose in life may promote health by fostering a future-oriented perspective, but little research has examined whether purposeful individuals think more about the future in everyday life, or whether this varies by age. This study investigated links between sense of purpose, age, future-oriented thinking, and physical activity. A total of 256 younger and older adults in Canada and Hong Kong ( M age = 48.0, SD = 24.6, range = 18–85; 68%…
Psychology (16 works) · Medicine (13 works) · Sociology (13 works) · Geography (11 works) · Urban Transport and Accessibility (11 works) · Gerontology (10 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (9 works) · Built environment (8 works) · Political science (8 works) · Engineering (7 works)