With the rise of intergenerational programming (e.g., intergenerational co-housing) across Canada and a demographic shift whereby the number of people 65 years and over is expected to almost double from 13.2% to 24.5% by 2036, mechanisms supporting intergenerational relations are crucial. Intergenerational landscapes (IL) is a term I use to describe all that is across, between, and within generational cohorts. The conceptual understandings of intergenerational landscapes and how they could be beneficial (or detrimental) in later life require revisiting in gerontological research. This dissertation uses a multi-method qualitative design to examine conceptual frameworks, experienced relations, and contemporary dynamics of IL. I am investigating IL at diverse locations of experience emphasizing the voices of both older and younger people. This includes, a conceptual review of intergenerational knowledge (Paper One), the intersections of intergenerational dynamics in a co-housing setting (Paper Two), and an autoethnographic account of managing an intergenerational co-housing project (Paper Three). This dissertation focuses on conceptual models, how paradigms of IL are reproduced in practice, and how contemporary dynamics are experienced in a Canadian context. This thesis aims to initiate a meaningful dialogue on how current theorizing requires revisiting, given the contemporary landscape. This thesis supports the advancement of academic knowledge, programming, and public policy in aging research. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / The aim of this thesis is to understand how contemporary conditions, such as population aging, may influence intergenerational relations. In this dissertation, I examine conceptual understandings, social influences, and people’s experiences of intergenerational co-housing. In the first section of this dissertation, I suggest a new language to discuss the 'intergenerational’ and highlight the importance of critical gerontological perspectives. I then examine how participants of an intergenerational co-housing program experience their living arrangement against a backdrop of contemporary change through a critical realist lens. I then turn to an autoethnographic account of managing an intergenerational co-housing project that sheds light on features of contemporary society that impact intergenerational realities. Finally, this research suggests ways to better discuss and debate intergenerational ideas and how they are related to aging, the field of gerontology, and older people.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/27524 |
| Date | January 2022 |
| Creators | Hatzifilalithis, Stephanie |
| Contributors | Grenier, Amanda, Health and Aging |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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