Living with pain in ‘age-(un)friendly’ housing environments: A qualitative study with African American older adults

Abstract

Understanding the dynamic relationship between housing environment and older adults’ pain may identify important factors that influence disparities in later life. We used a qualitative description approach to examine the context of environmental lifespaces in older African Americans (ages 61–81) with chronic osteoarthritis pain living in income-adjusted housing. Environmental inequity, healthcare needs, and mobility limitations influenced their perceptions of lifespace equity and interfered with their vitality and feeling of security. Their housing environments lacked age-friendly amenities, and specific enhancements to assist aging individuals with everyday function and reduction of pain were identified. This study contributes new evidence on the impact of macro, meso, and micro environments on pain management while also calling for greater attention to parity in infusing age-friendly resources into minority housing.