Thesis Format
Monograph
Degree
Master of Science
Program
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Supervisor
Marshall, Carrie A.
Abstract
Older adults are increasingly being forced into homelessness, a tragic consequence of structural violence. During homelessness, older adults disproportionately experience trauma. To explore this experience, I conducted two studies: 1) a systematic review and meta-aggregation designed to address the question: what are the experiences of trauma for older adults with lived and living experiences of homelessness in existing interdisciplinary literature?; and 2) a secondary analysis of qualitative interviews guided by the question: how do older adults experience trauma across the transition to housing following homelessness?. Findings indicated that older adults experience homelessness as deeply traumatic. For some older adults, homelessness disrupted their sense of ontological security, leading to changed views of themselves and their situated reality. The transition to housing represents an opportunity to support older adults to regain a sense of ontological security, however my findings indicate that this is the case only if older adults are supported to access safe, deeply affordable, accessible housing.
Summary for Lay Audience
Across the world, older adults are increasingly experiencing homelessness. During homelessness, older adults are at risk of experiencing trauma, and homelessness itself can be considered a traumatic experience. The purpose of this research was to explore how older adults experience trauma before, during, and after homelessness. To fulfill this purpose, I conducted a study in two Phases, a systematic review and meta-aggregation, followed by a secondary analysis of existing qualitative research data.
In Phase 1 I conducted a systematic review of experience using the methodology advanced by the Joanna Briggs Institute (Lockwood et al., 2020). I searched 6 databases using a search strategy developed in collaboration with a teaching and learning librarian. In this Phase, I identified 24 studies that met my inclusion criteria. I conducted a meta-aggregation of the findings of these studies and generated five themes characterizing this body of literature: 1) Being let down by society and systems; 2) The world is not a safe place; 3) Survivor not victim; 4) Living in the long shadow of trauma; and 5) Homelessness as a deeply personal trauma.
In Phase 2 I conducted a secondary analysis, which involved analyzing 15 interviews generated from a study on the transition to housing following homelessness that were conducted with older adults. Using ontological security theory as my guiding framework, I analyzed the interviews using reflexive thematic analysis. I identified three themes: 1) My life got “pulled out from under me” and I am struggling to regain even footing; 2) I see reality clearly, “the system is broken”; and 3) Learning to adapt to a new reality.
In summary, older adults in my two studies described experiencing the loss of housing as a traumatic circumstance that led them to question their views of themselves and their situated reality. The transition to housing was an opportunity to feel safe again, however only if older adults were provided with safe, deeply affordable, accessible housing. Future research needs to continue to explore how older adults transitioning to housing following homelessness can be better supported to reestablish their sense of ontological security. Service providers also need to understand the traumatic nature of homelessness and increase their use of trauma and violence informed practices. Finally, policy makers need to implement policies that better support older adults to age in the right place and have access to deeply affordable, safe, accessible housing.
Recommended Citation
Goldszmidt, Rebecca, "Exploring Experiences of Trauma for Older Adults Across the Trajectory of Unhoused to Housed" (2024). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 10625.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/10625