Assisted living facilities as sites of encounter: implications for older adults’ experiences of inclusion and exclusion

Abstract

Most of the existing literature on inclusion and exclusion among older adults focuses on community-dwelling individuals. In this article, we draw on the results of a comparative case study to explore how older adults in two assisted living settings experience inclusion and exclusion. One site was a low-income facility and the other a higher-end facility in a mid-sized Canadian city. Bridging together geographies of encounter and gerontological approaches on social inclusion, we analyse interviews with tenants and key informants to explore when, where and in what ways these groups experience inclusion and exclusion in these particular settings. Tenants’ narratives reveal how their encounters, and in turn their experiences of exclusion and inclusion are shaped by experiences throughout their lifecourse, the organisation of assisted living spaces, communities beyond the facility, and pervasive discourses of ageism and ‘dementiaism’. We argue that addressing experiences of exclusion for older adults within these settings involves making more time and space for positive encounters and addressing pervasive discourses around ageism and ‘dementiaism’ among tenants and staff.

Engagement with life among the oldest-old in assisted living facilities: enriching activities and developmental adaptation to physical loss

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Location, location, location: Close ties among older continuing care retirement community residents

“…Although researchers have argued that the number of ties between individuals who make up the social network in CCRCs is quite sparse, with most residents not even knowing each other [14], others have shown that the CCRC is effective in alleviating loneliness and facilitating social connections among its residents [15, 16]. However, some research has stressed the presence of cliques, conflicts, and loneliness in residential care settings [17, 18]. Moreover, a recent review of the literature has concluded that the rates of loneliness in long-term care are high, with more than 50% of the residents reporting loneliness [19].…”

Like a Social Breath: Homecare’s Contributions to Social Inclusion and Connectedness of Older Adults

“…These challenges limit their geographical space and shrink their social circles, making them more dependent on their immediate surroundings and family or community support for social inclusion. Loss of and dismissal of previous social roles and identities can also deteriorate a sense of valued social self, as they are reduced to being merely 'care recipients' or 'old' (Burns et al, 2012;Herron et al, 2020). Older adults do not necessarily need to perceive shrinking social networks and 'aloneness' in a negative way.…”