Helen Bae
This research study explores the challenges of ageing in Hamilton’s [Ontario, Canada] community, with a particular focus on housing and mobility experiences among older adults. The objective is to identify the necessary support systems that enable ageing individuals to remain comfortably within their communities. Employing design anthropology and visual ethnography, the study analyses data from one-on-one interviews, journey maps, and photographs that vividly illustrate environmental challenges. Reflexive Thematic Analysis was utilised to examine the lived experiences of low-income older adults, aiming to propose feasible interventions.
Findings indicate that single, divorced, or widowed individuals, as well as those with disabilities, require more comprehensive support to age successfully within the community. A shortage of accessible, affordable, and social housing presents significant barriers to ageing in place. Many low-income seniors also face physical mobility challenges and rely on limited public transportation services such as DARTS, further complicating their ability to live independently. Additionally, middle-income baby boomers have been overlooked in senior housing policies, exacerbating the crisis. To provide a holistic understanding of these challenges, a synthesis map (Figure 1) was developed, highlighting systemic issues that require coordinated interventions at federal, provincial, and municipal levels. Addressing these issues necessitates horizontal policy changes to ensure sustainable and inclusive ageing solutions.
KEYWORDS: accessibility, age-optimising community, affordable housing, poverty, social integration, systemic design, policy interventions
