Spatial aspects of the residential adjustments of older parents moving to low-income senior housing: A longitudinal study

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to determine the effects of changes in local behaviour settings and individual attributes on the adjustments of older parents moving to government-subsidized senior citizen apartment (SCA) projects. The data were elicited from a sample of 106 residents of 25 SCAs in Winnipeg, Manitoba, who participated in a longitudinal interview survey. The data analysis involved use of bivariate statistical inferential tests and multiple regression frameworks. The findings disclose that the moves had only a moderate impact on parent–child residential separation and interaction. However, statistically significant predictors of four personal state outcomes (self-rated health, morale, depression, self-esteem) of the moves include variables concerning change in the older parent’s personal resources, everyday travel, and subjective appraisals of service, social, and physical components of the local neighbourhood. The findings have important policy implications in relation to the provision of appropriate behaviour settings for senior housing.