Older Adults’ Perspectives on Occupational Supports in Alternative Housing

The purpose of the study was to identify older adults’ perspectives on existing supports to occupational engagement in alternative communities including cohousing and Village Movement. Researchers sought to answer the question, “What is the impact of alternative housing supports on occupational performance among community-dwelling older adults?” Cohousing and the Village Movement are alternative housing communities that provide supports to older adults to facilitate aging in place. Supports in cohousing often include common spaces for meals, outdoor activities, as well as member-run services. Members maintain their own private space as well (Cohousing, 2019). In Villages, members remain in their own home but subscribe to a member-run service network (Poor, Baldwin, & Willett, 2012).

A descriptive study was conducted by gathering data through an anonymous electronic survey and phone interviews. One Village and one cohousing community agreed to distribute the survey. Individuals were allowed to participate if they were 60 years or older, lived in one of the participating communities, did not reside in the European Union, and fully completed the survey before the deadline. An electronic survey using the Qualtrics platform was distributed via email, and 37 people completed the survey. Participants had the option of participating in a follow-up phone interview by leaving their phone number. The survey questions contained demographic information including age, gender, health and living arrangements as well as an inventory of support usage and availability. Phone interviews were recorded and transcribed. Quantitative data from the electronic survey were tabulated into frequencies and qualitative data was coded and themed.

In the cohousing community, meals were the most commonly used support with 88.9% of participants using it 1-6 times per week. Transportation, leisure activities, and social events were all used frequently, while nursing services and home management assistance were used the least frequently or were not offered. In the Village, social events were utilized the most with 46.4% attending 1-3 times per month, followed by education workshops. The remainder of supports were infrequently or never utilized. Four individuals participated in the phone interview. The resulting themes included transportation, social participation, community involvement, exchange of services, and financial concerns. Transportation was viewed by older adults as a necessary resource, but some found public transit not ideal for older adults. Social engagement and volunteering were valued and utilized by respondents, and feeling a part of their community and having social support was reported to be enriching to their lives. Some expressed the importance of low-cost resources. Others described the need for more low-cost housing for older adults, and that most people cannot afford to live in the places that have the supports they want and need.

Understanding the perspectives of older adults on how the supports they value impact their occupational performance, help inform client-centered care. Alternative housing options are a popular solution for older adults who wish to age in place but require support for occupational engagement. Participants identified a wide variety of supports to engagement that ranged from social interaction to educational opportunities. This study provides insight into what older adults value within these communities, and provides a method of gathering the unique experiences of community dwelling older adults. Results are relevant for occupational therapists as they can partner with housing communities to evaluate resident needs and aid in developing programs and services that support aging in place.

References

Cohousing (2019). Cohousing. Retrieved from https://www.cohousing.org/what-cohousing/cohousing/

Poor, S., Baldwin, C., & Willett, J. (2012). The village movement empowers older adults to stay connected to home and community. Generations, 36(1), 112-117. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.gvsu.edu/docview/1351549848?accountid=39473