The role of informal support systems in residential environments for low-income older renters: an exploratory study

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Aging in place
• informal support systems
• low-income
• older renters
• residential environments

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.

Additional information

Funding

The project described was supported by Project Number, NC.X-297-5-16-170-1 from USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

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.