Home Connections
Asynchronous Session
Architectures of Care: Building for Aging in Mid-century United States (1945-1968)
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Dora Vanette
The mid-twentieth century was a formative period in the elaboration of the cultural imaginary of old age and the development of architectures for aging in the United States. The vertiginous rise of this demographic segment was overwhelmingly framed as a problem, one with distinct architectural implications. As families scattered across suburbia, it became more difficult for younger generations to provide consistent care to aging relatives. At the same time, the media increasingly framed multigenerational living as an unnatural arrangement. The unvoiced question that rang through period discourse was, in a society that centers individual freedoms and responsibilities, who provides care when one is no longer able to take care of themselves? This paper locates an important tipping point in the rerouting of eldercare from family to architecture in the post-World War II United States. The paper investigates the role of city, state, and federal governments and non-profit organizations such as the Ford Foundation in developing housing standards for the nation’s elderly. These standards conceptualized the aging body as little more than a cluster of ailments and, in the absence of familial aid, hailed architecture as the prosthesis that would reduce the friction between the body and the surrounding environment. The paper considers the sites of care in the process of aging and the way architecture makes visible or obfuscates care. By examining the spatialities and materialities of care, the paper brings to light the transformation of caring practices and relations in the second half of the twentieth century.
Digital Assistance vs. Ideas of a Good Home?! : A Clash Uncovered within a Research Design of Day Visits
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Ulrike Fettke
People want to live independently and in familiar surrounding for as long as possible. However, permanent health changes linked to disabilities (Tucker et al., 2022) and old age (Pani-Harreman et al., 2021) turn the built environment, in particular the equipment and the construction of housing, into a determinant of living independently at home (Sixsmith & Sixsmith, 2008). (Digital) assistive devices and related systems like Ambient Assisted Living can support independent living at home. There are a number of prerequisites, such as technical feasibility and technology acceptance (Renaud & van Biljon, 2008), which the DeinHaus 4.0 Oberbayern research project is investigating with a research design of “day visits”. Patients first visit homes equipped with (digital) aids. They then complete a questionnaire and give feedback in a recorded group setting. In the course of research, it became clear that next to the more traditional factors of health, control beliefs (financial options, technology skills and preexperiences), and gerontechnology anxiety (Chen and Lou 2020), individual perspectives on housing and living are decisive for usage and adoption decisions. Tenant positions, the presence of further household members, ideas of a good home and anxiety about “what others might think of me” influence usage and adoption of assistive devices. The paper draws on the research project's findings to show the perspectives on housing and living that make people refrain from assistive devices. Although most devices are designed to allow social participation to be maintained, individual usage decides about the assistive potential of the solutions.
Home Is Where the Heart Stays - Aging in Place in Southeast Atlanta: A Qualitative Exploration of Older Adults' Perceptions and Adaptations for Continued Independence
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Yousef Bushehri
This study investigated the perceptions and experiences of community-dwelling older adults in southeast Atlanta regarding their living environments and the adaptations necessary for aging in place. Through qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, the study explored the decision-making processes surrounding home modifications and the choice between staying in familiar environments or relocating to senior living facilities. Participants expressed a strong preference for aging in place, citing the autonomy and familiarity associated with their current homes. Key themes identified include the functional challenges posed by physical and cognitive declines, the psychosocial impact of home environment changes, and the socioecological factors influencing these decisions. The findings highlight a significant gap between the desire to age in place and the practical modifications needed to facilitate this preference. Barriers to modifications include lack of information, perceived complexity of the process, and attachment to existing home settings. This study contributes to the understanding of how older adults perceive their ability to maintain independence and navigate their living spaces. It underscores the need for more proactive planning in home design and community support to enhance the feasibility of aging in place. Additionally, the research reveals the psychological and social dimensions of aging that influence home modification decisions and relocation considerations, offering insights into improving housing policies and practices to better support the aging population in maintaining a high quality of life in their chosen living environments.
Why They Gather: A Qualitative Study on the Perceived Value of a Local Older Adult LGBTQ+ Coffee Group Gathering in a Large Midwestern City
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Richard Ginnetti
This qualitative study investigated the impact of the perceived value of participating in a coffee group gathering in the lives of an older adult LGBTQ+ population using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach. In collaboration with community center leaders, group facilitators, coffee group members, and academic researchers from three institutions, the study sought to understand the group's value to its participants. Focus groups conducted in two locations identified five central themes: Safety & Healing, Filling a Void, Overcoming the Sense of Diminishment, Lived Experience, and Social Empowerment. These themes highlight how the gatherings fostered a sense of safety, healing, and helped fill a social void. They also provided insights into how participants overcome feelings of social diminishment. Importantly, the study reveals that these meetings significantly enhanced feelings of connection, validation, and empowerment among the members, addressing critical issues of exclusion and unmet social needs. The findings underscore the importance of such community gatherings in enhancing the quality of life and social integration for older LGBTQ+ adults.
