scholarly journals What Does It Mean to Age in Place as an Older Homeless Woman? Facing an Altered Sense of Place, Belonging, and Identity

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 52-53
Author(s):  
Judith Gonyea ◽  
Kelly Melekis
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Sense Of Place ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Aging In Place ◽  
Personal Control ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Place Identity ◽  
Homeless Women ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Age In Place

Abstract The emergence of “aging in place” as social policy in the U.S and globally reflects a deepening understanding that a home is more than a physical domicile, it also represents a source of personal and social identity and offers one a sense of place and belonging. In this qualitative study we explore the question, What does “aging in place” mean to older homeless women navigating the shelter system and streets? Using a phenomenological approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with fifteen chronically homeless women in their fifties using the shelter system. Our analysis process was inductive and iterative with the culminating phases being the generation and interpretation of themes. Our analysis revealed the links between place, sense of belonging, and identity. To be displaced from a physical home can present challenges to defining one’s very existence. Specific themes emerging from the women’s narratives included the ways in which shelter and street life impacted their sense of personal control, privacy, security, health, and comfort as well as underscored that shelters are dehumanizing places that further diminish one’s sense of self and self-worth. The interviewed women sought to construct a positive sense of self through speaking about their past, present, and future roles as well as identities gained through social relations and place identity connections. Based on the findings, we suggest strategies by which shelters might better respond to unique needs of older women, including adopting ways that do not further disempower or stigmatize them but rather promote pathways out of homelessness.

scholarly journals Four individuals' experiences during and following a psilocybin truffle retreat in the Netherlands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Lutkajtis
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Relational Ontology ◽  
After Effects

AbstractThis article reports on the experiences of four healthy individuals who attended a legal psilocybin truffle retreat in the Netherlands. The study employed a qualitative phenomenological approach, using semi-structured interviews to gain an understanding of participants' psilocybin experiences and their after-effects. The experiential themes that emerged from these case studies closely match themes that have been identified in previous studies of psilocybin, including variability of the experience, the presence of mystical-type features, significant changes to subjective sense of self, and a generalized sense of connectedness. Participants framed their narrative accounts around moments of key insight, and these insights were related to a sense of connection: to self, others, and to a broader relational ontology. Embodiment, currently an understudied topic in psychedelic research, also emerged as a theme. The case studies presented here provide preliminary evidence to suggest that for healthy individuals in a well-controlled and supportive retreat setting, a high dose of psilocybin can lead to enduring positive after-effects that last up to twelve months.

scholarly journals “These Girls, We Should Not Allow Them Do PhD”: Perceived Realities and Reactions of Some Never-married “Akada” Ladies

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Olayinka Modupe Onayemi
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Marriage Age ◽  
Academic Degree ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Additional Degree ◽  
Never Married ◽  
Perceived Benefit ◽  
Dual Status

Crossing the culturally perceived appropriate marriage age, especially for single ladies is deviant in some societies, so also is advanced academic (“Akada”) pursuit for women. The experience of falling within both categories might be confounding, yet, have not received much research attention. This study explored how, this social ‘comorbidity’ informs social relations of this category. The study adopted phenomenological approach. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were held with 20 never-married ladies who were either undergoing or have obtained their Ph.D. The involuntarily never-married “akada” ladies reported the popular opinion that too much academic degree keeps men on the run as a major concern. They also shared basic coping strategies and perceived benefit of their dual status. While some never-married “akada” women fail to notice this socially conceived ills in other to advance, the ill-opinions was reported to debar many never-married ladies from taking conscious effort towards getting additional degree for improvement. Finally, the study reveals that the popular negative opinion about the “Akada” ladies somewhat further reinforces their singlehood, and better explains their protracted singlehood than the rhetoric of never-married “akada” ladies being too busy. Hence, the need for a re-orientation.

scholarly journals Challenges and Supports to Aging in Place in a Gentrifying Context

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 873-873
Author(s):  
Manish Kumar ◽  
Laura Richman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Affordable Housing ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Aging In Place ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Neighborhood Change ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Age In Place

Abstract Neighborhoods play a central role in healthy aging, with changes to neighborhoods having a profound impact on older adults’ ability to age in place. Using gentrification as an indicator of neighborhood change and applying the theoretical framework of the Environmental Press model (Lawton and Nahemow, 1973), this study examined the relationship between changing environments, affordable housing, and environmental attributes that support and hinder the health and well-being of older adults. A qualitative, case-study approach was used to interview low-income, majority Black older adults in a gentrifying area of Washington DC. 32 individuals (16 in non-profit and 16 in for-profit affordable housing) aged 55 and older participated in semi-structured interviews on perceptions of gentrification, neighborhood change, and challenges and supports to aging in place. Transcripts were then analyzed using the framework method of analysis. Although participants generally reported that gentrification improved their neighborhood’s built environment, many attributed it to a decline in social capital. Affordable housing provided an ability to age in place, though participants expressed uncertainty over their long-term ability to age in the context of continuing change. These findings suggest that while the physical changes accompanying gentrification may support older adults’ ability to age in place, its detrimental impact on social capital further increases their risk for social isolation. While affordable housing may enable older adults to age in place, fostering a greater sense of permanence and well-being will require additional policies that both increase accessibility to the physical amenities provided by gentrification and preserve older adults’ social capital.

scholarly journals Pain self-management experiences in haemophilia patients: a qualitative study

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masoume Rambod ◽  
Farkondeh Sharif ◽  
Zahra Molazem ◽  
Kate Khair
Keyword(s):  
Pain Relief ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Complementary Therapy ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Structured Interviews

Abstract Background: Pain management can prevent long-term burdens in haemophilia patients and improve their quality of life. The present study aimed to describe and interpret pain experiences in haemophilia patients, focusing on pain self-management in their lives. Methods: This was a qualitative study undertaken using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. The study involved 14 haemophilia patients referred to a haemophilia clinic affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and field notes. Thematic analysis with van Manen’s methodological framework was applied. Data analysis was performed using MAX. QDA qualitative software (2010). Results: Four themes emerged: a sense of self-awareness and recognition of pain and the factors that affect it, the ability to control and self-manage pain, gradually achieving self-efficacy in pain control, and using cognitive and spiritual strategies for pain relief. Conclusions: The study highlighted the essence of the lived experience of pain self-management and generated its linguistic description. By providing complementary therapy interventions, healthcare providers and family members could increase patients’ self-awareness, recognition, ability to self-manage and control pain effectively, and competence in developing cognitive and spiritual strategies for pain relief.

scholarly journals Examining Community-Based Housing Models to Support Aging in Place: A Scoping Review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Chum ◽  
Griffin Fitzhenry ◽  
Kali Robinson ◽  
Michelle Murphy ◽  
Delyth Phan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Aging In Place ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Sheltered Housing ◽  
Retirement Communities ◽  
Community Based

Abstract Background and Objectives With the global population aging, there is a demand for older adults to age in place, that is, to live and age well in their home and community with some level of independence. Community-based housing models exist and may support this process. This scoping review aimed to describe and synthesize the ways in which community-based housing models relate to older adults’ aging in place and identify strengths and gaps in the literature. Research Design and Methods The housing models explored were villages, naturally occurring retirement communities, congregate housing and cohousing, sheltered housing, and continuing care retirement communities. This exploratory scoping review examined international peer-reviewed literature published from 2004 to 2019. Six databases were searched using terms related to housing models and older adults. Forty-six articles met the inclusion criteria. Descriptive numerical summary and thematic analysis were used to synthesize study characteristics and findings. Results Our analysis revealed 4 themes relating to aging in place in the housing models: Social Relations, Health and Well-being, Sense of Self and Autonomy, and Activity Participation. Further analysis identified housing-specific characteristics that appeared to pose barriers to, or enable, aging in place. Discussion and Implications To best support aging in place, the findings of the review suggest multiple characteristics worth considering when developing or relocating to a community-based housing model. Further research is required to understand how facilitating characteristics can promote aging in place for community-dwelling older adults.

scholarly journals NAVIGATING STREET AND SHELTER LIFE: THE CONSEQUENCES OF FORCED MOBILITY FOR OLDER HOMELESS WOMEN

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S183-S184
Author(s):  
Judith G Gonyea
Keyword(s):  
Later Life ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Place Identity ◽  
Homeless Women ◽  
Homeless Population ◽  
Women's Narratives ◽  
Time Space ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Male Model ◽  
Policies And Programs

Abstract Older homeless women have largely been an invisible population. Two co-occurring trends however are bringing them into the public spotlight—the aging and the feminization of the adult homeless population. Yet despite the steep increase in their numbers, relatively little research exists about how gender and age intersect to shape the homeless experience. Such information is critical if we are to transform our nation’s homeless system, which is based largely on a male model of homelessness, to better support women at risk or experiencing homelessness. In this presentation, we therefore share findings from our qualitative study of homeless older urban women. Using a phenomenological approach, we conducted and recorded semi-structured, in depth interviews with fifteen chronically homeless women in their fifties. Our analysis process was inductive and iterative with the culminating phases being the generation and interpretation of themes. Our analysis revealed the links between place, social connection, sense of belonging, and identity. The women’s narratives uncovered how the time-space discontinuity, created through homelessness, shaped the struggles they faced in trying to survive in degraded or threatening environments, altering their identities and impacting self-esteem. Also revealed was that mobility is a key factor to maintaining the place-identity connection. The women’s narratives highlighted how forced mobility with constrained choice not only led to their pathways into homelessness but also dominated their daily navigation of street and shelter life. We conclude by exploring the question of how we might redesign policies and programs to disrupt homelessness for women in later life.

Music Lessons: Exploring the Role and Meaning of Music for Older Adults with Dementia

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 586-599
Author(s):  
Melanie Elliott ◽  
Paula Gardner ◽  
Miya Narushima ◽  
Lynn McCleary
Keyword(s):  
Aging In Place ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Alternative Strategies ◽  
Contemplative Practices ◽  
Age In Place ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Insight Into

ABSTRACTAn aging population and increasing rates of dementia point to the need for alternative strategies that allow individuals to age in place. This multiple case study explored, from an insider’s perspective, the role and meaning of music for individuals with dementia who are aging in place. Methods were semi-structured interviews, observations, and videos. The study’s central theme is connection, with three types of “connectors” – self, partner, and music – as subthemes. Connection to self involves present moment awareness, accessing memories, and self-expression. Connection to partner builds on self-connection and spending time together with music. Lastly, the connection to music builds on the previous two subthemes as well as the desire to keep things “normal”. This study provides insight into the growing body of interdisciplinary literature dedicated to dementia, music, aging in place, and contemplative practices, as well as implications for aging and caring for someone with dementia.

scholarly journals Prioritizing social identities: Patients’ perspective on living with multimorbidity

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 263355652110093
Author(s):  
Camilla Drivsholm Sand ◽  
Keren Rahbek ◽  
Tora G Willadsen ◽  
Alexandra R Jønsson
Keyword(s):  
Everyday Life ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Social Identities ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Medical Encounter ◽  
Physical Limitations ◽  
Emerging Themes ◽  
Patients Perspective

Objective: This article explores experiences of people with multimorbidity, and attempts to advance understandings of the complexity of living with multimorbidity outside the medical encounter in a social identity theoretical framework. Method: This is a qualitative study using individual semi-structured interviews among nine persons living with multimorbidity. The interviews are analysed inductively according to thematic content analysis. Results: The emerging themes are: 1) Impact on daily life, 2) Professional life and 3) Capacity for handling multimorbidity. People with multimorbidity experience physical limitations and psychological distress, which limits their ability to maintain social relations and affiliation to the labour market. Accordingly, they are challenged in their ability to retain a sense of normal everyday life, which is mediated by their capacity for handling multimorbidity. Discussion: Multimorbidity may compromise various social identities. The complexity of living with multimorbidity is increased by an aspiration to maintain valued social identities in order to preserve a coherent sense of self and a normal everyday life. This study suggests an increased focus on individual priorities and values outside the medical encounter, and argues in favour of recognizing the conflicts that people experience as they try to balance multimorbidity with other important aspects of their daily lives.

scholarly journals “We're actually more of a likely ally than an unlikely ally”: relationships between syringe services programs and law enforcement

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Y. Franco ◽  
Angela E. Lee-Winn ◽  
Sara Brandspigel ◽  
Musheng L. Alishahi ◽  
Ashley Brooks-Russell
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Wound Care ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Treatment Programs ◽  
People Who Use Drugs ◽  
Positive Relationships ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Program Staff ◽  
Compliance With The Law

Abstract Background Syringe services programs provide sterile injection supplies and a range of health services (e.g., HIV and HEP-C testing, overdose prevention education, provision of naloxone) to a hard-to-reach population, including people who use drugs, aiming to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. Methods We performed a qualitative needs assessment of existing syringe services programs in the state of Colorado in 2018–2019 to describe—their activities, needs, and barriers. Using a phenomenological approach, we performed semi-structured interviews with key program staff of syringe services programs (n = 11). All interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and validated. A data-driven iterative approach was used by researchers to develop a coding scheme to organize the data into major themes found across interviews. Memos were written to synthesize main themes. Results Nearly all the syringe program staff discussed their relationships with law enforcement at length. All syringe program staff viewed having a positive relationship with law enforcement as critical to the success of their program. Main factors that influence the quality of relationships between syringe services programs and law enforcement included: (1) alignment in agency culture, (2) support from law enforcement leadership, (3) police officers’ participation and compliance with the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, which provides intensive case management for low-level drug offenders, and (4) implementation of the “Needle-Stick Prevention Law” and Drug Paraphernalia Law Exemption. All syringe program staff expressed a strong desire to have positive relationships with law enforcement and described how a collaborative working relationship was critical to the success of their programs. Conclusions Our findings reveal effective strategies to foster relationships between syringe services programs and law enforcement as well as key barriers to address. The need exists for both syringe services programs and law enforcement to devote time and resources to build a strong, positive partnership. Having such positive relationships with law enforcement has positive implications for syringe services program clients, including law enforcement being less likely to ticket persons for having used syringes, and encourage people who use drugs to seek services from syringe services programs, which can then lead them to other resources, such as housing, wound care, and substance use treatment programs.

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