ABSTRACT
Low-income elderly renters may face difficulty aging in place, emphasizing the potential role of informal support systems in the residential environment. To understand informal support systems for low-income older renters aging in place, data from a larger study were analyzed from the perspective of informal support systems in housing and community. For the primary study, a qualitative interview method (N = 25 low-income older renters) was employed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Six themes about informal support systems were identified, as currently provided or specifically lacking in the respondent’s home or community: children (elder as caregiver), churches, neighborhood walkability, extended family (in the household), volunteer opportunities, and pets. This exploratory, qualitative study provides an opportunity to better understand the role of informal support systems in residential environments for low-income aging renters, which can facilitate aging in place and suggests more supportive housing, neighborhoods, and communities for the elderly through design, location, and/or management decisions.
Acknowledgments
We would like to recognize Beacon Management Corporation and Greensboro Housing Coalition (GHC) for sharing their insight about service to the elderly population and the community needs, and for assisting in the sample recruitment for our research project.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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Notes on contributors
Kathleen R. Parrott
Kathleen Parrott, Ph.D. is a Professor of Residential Environments and Design, Department of Apparel, Housing and Resource Management, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
Sung-Jin Lee
Sung-jin Lee, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Housing Research, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411.
Daejin Kim
Daejin Kim is an Assistant Professor, Department of Interior Design, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50010.
Sheryl Renee Robinson
Sheryl Renee Robinson is a Research Associate, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and State University, Greensboro, NC 27411.
Valerie L. Giddings
Valerie Giddings, Ph.D. is Interim Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and State University, Greensboro, NC 27411.