Challenges Experienced by Subsidized Housing Residents with Dementia or Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Older adults with dementia or cognitive impairment face unique challenges to living safely and independently in subsidized housing. This scoping review summarizes previous studies to develop an understanding of the challenges faced by older populations with dementia or cognitive impairment. Three medical databases, five social science databases, and two gray literature databases were searched. Six themes emerged: tenants’ demographic profile, physical challenges, mental/social/psychological challenges, behavioral challenges, inadequate services/environment, and barriers posed by policy and practice. We conclude that housing providers and practitioners should collaborate in ensuring tenants with dementia or cognitive impairment in subsidized housing are well supported, and we suggest areas for future research.

Keywords:

• Aging in place
• cognitive impairment
• dementia
• subsidized housing
• tenancy

Acknowledgements

We would like to credit our professor Esme Fuller-Thomson of the Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at University of Toronto for providing guidance and editing assistance throughout the writing process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.