title: Retirement villages: An alternative form of housing on an ageing landscape

authors: Grant, Bevan C.

subjects: ageing

abstract: Retirement villages are a relatively new form of housing to appear on the ageing landscape. The demand for this style of living by a small, but increasing, proportion of the older population suggests these places provide a viable alternative lifestyle to that in the broader community. This seems to be the case particularly for those older people who experience changing circumstances that detract from the quality of life to which they had been accustomed. What research is available suggests that these places can engender the feeling of community and provide the basis for, and a constructive way of, influencing an individual’s social and psychological identification. However, retirement villages are not free from controversy, nor are they an antidote to ageing. Hence, we would do well to learn more about the way these places function as well as examine the experiences of the people who live there. Such information would be useful to inform future policy initiatives with regard to these age-segregated communities.

text: Retirement villages: An alternative form of housing on an ageing landscape Retirement villages are a relatively new form of housing to appear on the ageing landscape. The demand for this style of living by a small, but increasing, proportion of the older population suggests these places provide a viable alternative lifestyle to that in the broader community. This seems to be the case particularly for those older people who experience changing circumstances that detract from the quality of life to which they had been accustomed. What research is available suggests that these places can engender the feeling of community and provide the basis for, and a constructive way of, influencing an individual’s social and psychological identification. However, retirement villages are not free from controversy, nor are they an antidote to ageing. Hence, we would do well to learn more about the way these places function as well as examine the experiences of the people who live there. Such information would be useful to inform future policy initiatives with regard to these age-segregated communities.

year: 2006

title: Navigating a pandemic: Exploring housing, homelessness, and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic

authors: Hall, Anthony

abstract: It has been almost four and a half years since Covid-19 emerged and changed everyday life for people in New Zealand. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented health response, which included lockdowns, social distancing measures and restrictions on the everyday lives of New Zealanders. Focusing on New Zealand, this thesis explores housing, homelessness and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. I aimed to provide a snapshot of the experiences of people who lived in emergency housing or were otherwise homeless during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, I wanted to understand the experiences of those housing case workers who supported the homeless during the Covid-19 pandemic. I undertook a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with five participants. Some themes that emerged from these interviews included challenges in access to services, healthcare and information concerning Covid-19. The concept of autonomy in the context of public health policies also emerged, and the impacts of social isolation and feelings of powerlessness as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were explored. Analysis of the participants’ experiences revealed underlying neoliberal narratives and internalised delegitimization. The participants demonstrated a variety of coping strategies, including familial connections, positive fatalism and humour, that were used to navigate their lives and the challenging Covid-19 pandemic. This study emphasises the importance of understanding the lived experiences of individuals facing homelessness, particularly during unprecedented events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, in order to produce equitable policy change that considers the diverse needs and challenges of vulnerable populations.

text: Navigating a pandemic: Exploring housing, homelessness, and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic It has been almost four and a half years since Covid-19 emerged and changed everyday life for people in New Zealand. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in an unprecedented health response, which included lockdowns, social distancing measures and restrictions on the everyday lives of New Zealanders. Focusing on New Zealand, this thesis explores housing, homelessness and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic. I aimed to provide a snapshot of the experiences of people who lived in emergency housing or were otherwise homeless during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, I wanted to understand the experiences of those housing case workers who supported the homeless during the Covid-19 pandemic. I undertook a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with five participants. Some themes that emerged from these interviews included challenges in access to services, healthcare and information concerning Covid-19. The concept of autonomy in the context of public health policies also emerged, and the impacts of social isolation and feelings of powerlessness as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were explored. Analysis of the participants’ experiences revealed underlying neoliberal narratives and internalised delegitimization. The participants demonstrated a variety of coping strategies, including familial connections, positive fatalism and humour, that were used to navigate their lives and the challenging Covid-19 pandemic. This study emphasises the importance of understanding the lived experiences of individuals facing homelessness, particularly during unprecedented events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, in order to produce equitable policy change that considers the diverse needs and challenges of vulnerable populations.

year: 2024

title: Māori and indigenous views on R and R: Resistance and Resilience

authors: Penehira, Mera

subjects: resilience

abstract: This article explores the development of Mäori and Indigenous frameworks of resilience, considering the impact of engaging with largely State- led notions of resilience on Mäori development. We highlight the closely linked notion of resistance, asserting the necessity of a fi rm political analysis from Indigenous researchers engaged in this discourse. One of the Indigenous criticisms of resilience theories is that by defi nition they assume an acceptance of responsibility for our position as disadvantaged individuals. That is, by examining and developing theories and models of resilience we buy into the idea that this is the way it is and we need simply to get better at bouncing back and being resilient. Resistance, however, represents an approach of collective fi ght- back, exposing the inequitable distribution of power, and actively opposing negative social, political and economic infl uences. This article represents a Mäori Indigenous political response to the resilience discourse.

text: Māori and indigenous views on R and R: Resistance and Resilience This article explores the development of Mäori and Indigenous frameworks of resilience, considering the impact of engaging with largely State- led notions of resilience on Mäori development. We highlight the closely linked notion of resistance, asserting the necessity of a fi rm political analysis from Indigenous researchers engaged in this discourse. One of the Indigenous criticisms of resilience theories is that by defi nition they assume an acceptance of responsibility for our position as disadvantaged individuals. That is, by examining and developing theories and models of resilience we buy into the idea that this is the way it is and we need simply to get better at bouncing back and being resilient. Resistance, however, represents an approach of collective fi ght- back, exposing the inequitable distribution of power, and actively opposing negative social, political and economic infl uences. This article represents a Mäori Indigenous political response to the resilience discourse.

year: 2014