Nuances of social integration within ageing in the right place for housing precarious older adults in independent housing with on-site support
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7146349 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nosaiba Fayyaz (Simon Fraser University), Nushaiba Nanjiba (0009-0002-1886-9997, Simon Fraser University, corresponding author), Atiya Mahmood (0000-0003-4986-0979, Simon Fraser University), Sepehr Pandsheno (0009-0006-5249-3865, Simon Fraser University), Sogol Haji Hosseini (Simon Fraser University), Sarah L Canham (0000-0002-0421-2612, University of Utah) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 46 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Ageing and Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s0144686x25100469 |
| OpenAlex | W7118165486 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 35 |
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
Autonomy · Community integration · Housing First · Photovoice · Precarity · Reflexivity · Shame · Social integration · Social isolation · Thematic analysis · Health disparities and outcomes · Homelessness and Social Issues · Housing, Finance, and Neoliberalism
Community Integration of Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities in Supportive Independent Housing
Social Interactions and Well-Being
Social ties and health
Does Housing Chronically Homeless Adults Lead to Social Integration?
Measuring Social Integration and Social Networks
Aging Well and the Environment
Ecology and the aging process.
Racialized Homelessness
What are the psychological and cognitive wellbeing benefits as reported by people experiencing green space? A meta-ethnography
Goals and Principles of Providers Working with People Experiencing Homelessness
Aging in the Right Place for Older Adults Experiencing Housing Insecurity
Loneliness among homeless-experienced older adults with cognitive or functional impairments
Housing First and Social Integration
Optimizing Mobility in Later Life
Proposing the Communicate Bond Belong Theory
Beyond behaviour
That lot up there and us down here’
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Patterns and effects of social integration on housing stability, mental health and substance use outcomes among participants in a randomized controlled Housing First trial
The third place
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |