This study explores the meanings and understandings of home of seniors experiencing homelessness and the supports and services these individuals need in their homes as they age. Guided by interpretive social sciences and critical gerontology this study engaged with 7 homeless seniors living in a seniors’ shelter in the City of Toronto. Using arts-based research methodology, this study had 7 seniors make collages to represent their vision and understandings of ‘home’. In addition, participants were asked what specific support and services they would need in their homes in order to support their overall health and wellbeing. Based on individual art session recordings and collages, thematic analysis was used to identify key themes in order to understand what home means, and what supports and services are required for homeless seniors. For these participants home is a unique physical space with nuanced meanings and provides unique elements that a shelter cannot. In addition, these participants identified specific in-home and community supports they would require in their homes. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

This thesis presents the development and evaluation of an enhanced turn-key indoor positioning system (IPS) for tracking the mobility patterns of older adults in residential settings. The design of the IPS hardware and software focused on usability in the context of aging-in-place, while maintaining high data quality, reduced incidences of missing data, and elevated room detection accuracy, with the highest accuracy reaching 99.47%. By integrating positional data with IMU sensors, this system not only captures precise locations but also identifies activity states and contextual information, establishing a detailed profile of mobility patterns. A 'floor filter' in the data processing models was developed to address vertical alignment challenges commonly encountered in multi-story dwellings. This adjustment improved prediction accuracies, with an average accuracy increase of 3.33% to 6.28% across various models. Among these, the Multi-Layer Perceptron Neural Network (MLP NN) and Shallow Neural Network (SNN) exhibited the highest accuracies for user room location predictions. Furthermore, we demonstrated the practical application of these technologies in a real-world setting through pilot clinical studies involving older adults. This study not only validated the integration of IPS and IMU data but also facilitated the establishment of behavioral trends that are crucial for context-aware analysis. The system's ability to adapt to different indoor environments without extensive setup, alongside its proven accuracy and reliability in capturing detailed mobility and activity information, underscores its potential to enhance elderly care and support aging in place. By leveraging advanced machine learning models and innovative data processing techniques, this work contributes to the field by offering a robust, scalable solution for monitoring the mobility patterns of the elderly, thus paving the way for future healthcare applications designed to accommodate the complexities of aging populations. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / This project develops a system that helps track the location and movement of older adults in their homes to support their independence and reduce stress on healthcare services. It improves on current technology by providing more accurate tracking inside the home. The system uses sensors to monitor how active someone is and understands the context of their movements—like whether they are resting or moving around—which helps in assessing both their physical and mental well-being. The results show that this technology is effective in tracking daily activities and can help in providing better care for older adults.

In 2011, a period began in which the United States demographic will change to include the largest, least prepared, and most diverse elderly population in our nation’s history. That was the year the “Baby Boomer” generation started retiring and members of this large cohort will continue to do so for approximately twenty years (Kemper, Komisar & Alecxih, 2005). Chronic health conditions and the obesity epidemic may make retirement years less healthy ones than for previous generations of older adults. Lifestyle changes in Baby Boomers as compared to previous cohorts of elders – increased divorce, fewer children, nontraditional family relationships – may result in less support for frail elders when they can no longer care for themselves, thereby increasing their vulnerability to long-term care placement (Cherlin, 2010; Ryan, Smith, Antonucci & Jackson, 2012

The development of an Indoor Positioning System that requires a non-invasive setup and installation process is outlined in this dissertation. The Hardware, Mechanical and Software components are described in complete detail. The system operates using a hybrid of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signal strength analysis and proximity sensor data collection to determine the location of a known Bluetooth compatible device. Additionally, a dynamic remote calibration protocol was developed to ensure a safe and smooth setup and integration process in any location the system is implemented. The system uses custom designed beacon modules that connect directly to outlets in designated rooms. These beacons relay sensor and BLE data to a Hub module that collects and stores all this data locally and on a cloud server. These features ensured that the IPS is a completely remote device that can be setup independently by the user. To our knowledge, this is the only Indoor Positioning System that does not require prior knowledge of the location of integration and the need for an in-person setup and calibration process. Additionally, despite the lack of an extensive setup and calibration process the system still operates at an accurate room detection percentage of 98%. To further prove its ease of use the system has been implemented in a clinical study where several older adults (65+) have integrated this system within their homes. This system has been designed to act as the foundation for larger scale healthcare monitoring applications. / Thesis / Candidate in Philosophy / Indoor positioning technology acts as the foundation for several healthcare monitoring networks. An accurate and easy to use indoor positioning system will entail how effective the overall healthcare monitoring platform is. Additionally, indoor positioning itself can be accomplished in several different ways. Some of these approaches include the use of physical sensors to detect presence, signal strength approximations via some sort of communication protocol or even the use of secure entry via RFID identification tags. Currently, most of the systems that use one of these approaches require extensive setup and calibration processes and extensive knowledge of the tracking locations. However, this is not always practical especially when the system is integrated in a large-scale environment like a retirement home. A system with an easy- to-use setup and installation platform is needed to complete these high impact healthcare monitoring projects.

O ambiente do bairro torna-se significativo para os idosos com o passar dos anos, e suas condições são importantes para manter os laços sociais com familiares e amigos, e desenvolver o senso de apego ao lugar e pertencimento, melhorando a saúde, qualidade de vida e bem-estar na velhice. Quando o espaço familiar passa por transformações, essas refletem no comportamento individual, na maneira como os espaços são apropriados e nas relações sociais. Um dos processos de transformação que tem ocorrido no ambiente da vizinhança é o chamado studentification, ou a formação de guetos estudantis com a chegada de universitários em bairros tradicionais. Esta dissertação busca elucidar as percepções dos idosos sobre o processo de studentification, focando especialmente nos aspectos das relações sociais, sobretudo com seus vizinhos, e das mudanças no ambiente do bairro. Para tanto, dois artigos compõem a dissertação, sendo o primeiro deles uma revisão scoping de literatura, com o panorama recente dos artigos publicados sobre as relações sociais na velhice e o meio urbano. Seu objetivo é descrever os principais aspectos sócio-físicos, conceitos e teorias estudados na literatura, através da revisão de 35 artigos coletados em 3 bases de dados distintas. Os resultados indicam que há uma concordância na literatura quanto aos principais conceitos relacionados ao tema; as teorias ainda são muitas, o que dificulta o consenso sobre as mais relevantes; faltam instrumentos comuns e validados que possibilitem a reprodução e generalização das pesquisas; a literatura aponta que o tema ainda deve ser debatido e explorado dentro da gerontologia ambiental. O segundo artigo traz os resultados de uma pesquisa empírica de estudo de caso, realizada com 21 idosos moradores de um bairro adjacente a uma universidade e que sofre o processo de studentification, e objetiva explorar os efeitos deste processo no ambiente sócio-físico, nas relações sociais e no aging in place; os dados foram analisados segundo a técnica de análise de conteúdo. Os resultados sugerem que as relações com vizinhos já eram fracas antes das mudanças ocorridas, não tendo afetado a escolha por envelhecer no lugar. As mudanças também não foram fatores primordiais para esta escolha, mas sim o apego e o senso de pertencimento. Os dados demonstram que apesar das transformações no ambiente, na verdade o processo de studentification pode ser visto como catalizador de novas relações intergeracionais no bairro. Espera-se que esta pesquisa possa contribuir para uma melhor compreensão dos efeitos da vizinhança e seu ambiente sócio-físico sobre os mais velhos, incentivando a expansão das pesquisas na área da gerontologia ambiental / The environment of the neighborhood becomes significant to the elderly over the years, and its conditions are important to maintain social ties with family and friends and develop the sense of attachment to place and belonging, improving health, quality of life and well-being in old age. When the familiar space undergoes transformations, these reflect on individual behavior, the way spaces are used and in social relations. One of the processes of transformation that has taken place in the neighborhood environment is called studentification, or the formation of student \"ghettos\" with the arrival of university students in traditional neighborhoods. This dissertation seeks to elucidate the perceptions of older people about the process of studentification, focusing especially on the aspects of social relations, particularly with their neighbors, and on the changes of the neighborhood environment. Therefore, two articles compose the dissertation, the first of them is a scoping review of literature presenting a recent panorama of published articles about social relations in old age and the urban environment. It aims to describe the main socio-physical aspects, concepts and theories studied in the literature, through the revision of 35 articles collected in 3 distinct databases. The results indicate that there is an agreement in the literature about the main concepts related to the topic; there are many theories, which hinder the consensus about the most relevant ones; there are a lack of common and validated instruments that facilitate the reproduction and generalization of research; the literature points out that the subject must still be debated and explored within the environmental gerontology. The second article brings the results of empirical research, a case study conducted with 21 elderly residents of a neighborhood adjacent to a university that suffers the studentification process. It aims to explore the effects of this process on the social-physical environment, social relations and aging in place; data were analyzed according to the content analysis technique. The results suggest that relations with neighbors were already weak before the changes in the neighborhood, and it has not affected the choice for aging in place. Likewise, the changes were not primary factors for this choice, but the attachment and the sense of belonging. The data demonstrate that despite the changes in the environment, these do not affect the ability of aging in place, in fact, the process of studentification can be seen as a catalyst of new intergenerational relations in the neighborhood. It is expected that this research may contribute to a better understanding of the effects of the neighborhood and the socio-physical environment on the elderly, encouraging the expansion of research in the field of environmental gerontology

Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / John W. Keller / The aging demographic of the United States is growing at an alarming rate. Each day, there are more than 10,000 people turning 65 years old. The majority of these individuals prefer to live in their home, called aging in place. Aging in place requires the resident to be relatively independent and capable of accessing necessary services. The emergent demographic shift will compel every community across the country to focus community planning efforts toward older adults. The amenities and structures in a community are, most of the time, not favorable for the older demographic. People in their later years develop various medical and physical conditions and subsequently, find difficulty when adapting to the environment. These individuals definitely need extra care and consideration from all sectors of the community. Creating an environment that promotes aging in place for older adults is confronted with multiple barriers that a community must work past.

Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Claude A. Keithley / In the near future, due to the baby boom of the sixties, a large proportion of the American population will fall into the age group of over 65. This dominating portion of the population will naturally require decent living styles and facilities. Most cities in the US, however in their current plan, do not seem to have enough provisions to address the needs of these senior citizens. The needs and rights of the aged are often found to be not properly addressed as the majority of the population are young and able-bodied and their needs are sure to take priority in formulating any community's plan and policies. Necessary changes in the current plan of many American cities are required to accommodate the needs of the elderly people as the baby boomers age. In this report, an attempt is made to understand and define the needs of the aging population who will very soon form a formidable part of the community. Of late, aging in place has become quite a popular lifestyle among senior citizens who usually like to spend the rest of their life in the same community as they have spent most of their adulthood or even childhood. Moving out of one's community and learning to adapt to a new environment is hardly desirable for anybody at a ripe age when one would rather lead an easy life by relaxing and engaging in the fond recollections of the past. The report attempts to study the aging components within the existing plan and investigates whether they exist or not and prescribes the required components in the comprehensive plan. For that purpose, the literature review identifies the needs of the elderly followed by a review of the Manhattan Urban Area Comprehensive Plan to determine how well the city plan addresses the needs of the elderly. The review of this plan provides a critique of the city's plan in terms of its efforts to make the community livable for the elderly. Moreover, the last chapter provides policy guidelines for the development of a specific component of the plan targeting the needs of the elderly.

Preserving and improving the health and well-being of older people is a significant public health issue of the 21st century. The increased attention to the promotion of health in old age has given rise to an extensive body of literature on the subject of “healthy aging” – a discourse dedicated to understanding the multidimensional factors associated with aging and health and the application of this knowledge. Adopting a place-based, qualitative approach, this dissertation addresses key gaps in the healthy aging literature. The public life of older people aging in place was examined to understand how neighbourhoods, as important physical and social places of aging, contribute to the well-being and healthy aging of older people. This dissertation employed a critical geographical gerontology research framework and a methodology called ‘friendly visiting’ which combines ethnography, narrative and case study research and utilizes participant observation, visual methods and interview techniques. The qualitative data were analyzed using grounded theory and an adapted coding strategy that integrated the textual, visual, and auditory data. The analysis process highlighted theoretically-informed themes that characterized participant’s perceptions and experiences of their neighbourhoods. Findings reveal neighbourhoods are important places of aging that impact the well-being of older people aging in place. This dissertation provides insight into the micro-territorial functioning of neighbourhoods for older people. Embedded within these environments are key sites for informal public life called third places (e.g., parks, streets and coffee shops). Third places are important material and social places for older populations. Preparing for, journeying to, and engaging in these public sites promotes healthy aging by providing opportunities for engagement in life and facilitating social networks. Results advance healthy aging and aging and place research, contribute to gerontological and geographical methodologies, and have implications for policy and practice in areas such as health promotion and age-friendly community initiatives.

Preserving and improving the health and well-being of older people is a significant public health issue of the 21st century. The increased attention to the promotion of health in old age has given rise to an extensive body of literature on the subject of “healthy aging” – a discourse dedicated to understanding the multidimensional factors associated with aging and health and the application of this knowledge. Adopting a place-based, qualitative approach, this dissertation addresses key gaps in the healthy aging literature. The public life of older people aging in place was examined to understand how neighbourhoods, as important physical and social places of aging, contribute to the well-being and healthy aging of older people. This dissertation employed a critical geographical gerontology research framework and a methodology called ‘friendly visiting’ which combines ethnography, narrative and case study research and utilizes participant observation, visual methods and interview techniques. The qualitative data were analyzed using grounded theory and an adapted coding strategy that integrated the textual, visual, and auditory data. The analysis process highlighted theoretically-informed themes that characterized participant’s perceptions and experiences of their neighbourhoods. Findings reveal neighbourhoods are important places of aging that impact the well-being of older people aging in place. This dissertation provides insight into the micro-territorial functioning of neighbourhoods for older people. Embedded within these environments are key sites for informal public life called third places (e.g., parks, streets and coffee shops). Third places are important material and social places for older populations. Preparing for, journeying to, and engaging in these public sites promotes healthy aging by providing opportunities for engagement in life and facilitating social networks. Results advance healthy aging and aging and place research, contribute to gerontological and geographical methodologies, and have implications for policy and practice in areas such as health promotion and age-friendly community initiatives.

Dr Alex Mihailidis - Presentation at UBC Thursday, March 26, 2009