Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Center on Aging and Health, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
J Am Geriatr Soc. 2024 Oct;72(10):3188-3199. doi: 10.1111/jgs.19069. Epub 2024 Jul 25.
Social isolation and loneliness are pervasive issues among older adults in the United States, carrying significant health risks. Low-income older adults are particularly vulnerable to these challenges compared with their higher-income counterparts due to their limited access to resources and social networks. Many low-income older adults live in subsidized housing, which has the potential to offer unique support tailored to their needs. The intersection of aging and the unique social circumstances faced by low-income older adults significantly influences how they navigate crises.
We conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 older adults aged 63-86 residing in subsidized housing communities in the United States. The data were collected from August 2021 to November 2022 and subsequently analyzed using a thematic constant comparison analysis approach.
Many participants felt connected to their housing community. Participants reported that their lives changed substantially due to the pandemic: communal activities ceased leading to isolation and feelings of loneliness. Amid this challenge, participants were resourceful and found creative ways to manage. Many emphasized the crucial role of technology in maintaining emotional support despite physical separation.
Participants in subsidized housing shared their experiences before and during this unique crisis highlighting the challenges they face, as well as their resilience and adaptability when facing challenges. Our findings underscore the significance of community activation, demonstrating that activities motivated older adults to improve their well-being. Additionally, the role of technology in maintaining connections proved to be crucial.
社交孤立和孤独在美国老年人中普遍存在，对他们的健康构成了重大威胁。与高收入老年人相比，低收入老年人由于资源和社交网络有限，更容易受到这些挑战的影响。许多低收入老年人居住在补贴性住房中，这些住房有可能提供针对他们需求的独特支持。老龄化和低收入老年人面临的独特社会环境的交叉点显著影响他们应对危机的方式。
我们对 24 名居住在美国补贴性住房社区的 63-86 岁老年人进行了半结构化访谈。数据于 2021 年 8 月至 2022 年 11 月收集，并使用主题恒定性比较分析方法进行分析。
许多参与者与他们的住房社区有联系。参与者报告说，由于疫情，他们的生活发生了重大变化：社区活动停止导致孤立和孤独感。在这一挑战中，参与者很有创造力，找到了创造性的方法来应对。许多人强调了技术在维持情感支持方面的关键作用，尽管存在身体上的分离。
补贴性住房的参与者分享了他们在这一独特危机之前和期间的经验，强调了他们面临的挑战，以及他们在面临挑战时的韧性和适应性。我们的研究结果强调了社区激活的重要性，表明活动促使老年人改善福祉。此外，技术在维持联系方面的作用被证明是至关重要的。
