Everyday encounters help make a good home – giving older people a voice 

Finland’s population is ageing, and more older people are continuing to live in their own homes into advanced old age. Housing and residential communities can help support older people’s functional ability and sense of inclusion. Residential communities and housing conditions have a significant influence on wellbeing and on feelings of inclusion and belonging. Conversely, difficulties within a residential community or shortcomings and problems in housing can undermine individuals’ wellbeing and inclusion. The opportunities offered by the residential environment directly influence how an older person can or cannot live their life (Jolanki, Suhonen & Rappe, 2020). Housing costs, the availability of local services and, for example, the ability to purchase services that support independent living also affect how meaningful older people find their housing.

Older people’s experiences at the heart of the study

The research project Meaningful Housing – Participation and Inclusion of Older People on Low Incomes in Residential Communities, conducted by Y-Säätiö and funded by Miina Sillanpään Säätiö, examines how a sense of community and participation and inclusion support the wellbeing of older people on low incomes in senior housing, and how these can be strengthened in residential environments.

The study has aimed to identify factors that support participation and inclusion, a sense of community and satisfaction with housing, as well as needs for support in everyday life. The findings will inform Y-Säätiö’s housing development work. Maria Kotimäki, a project worker and researcher at Y-Säätiö, is the researcher responsible for the project.

Research data have been collected from residents aged over 65 living in M2-Kodit senior housing properties owned by Y-Säätiö, from Y-Säätiö employees and from representatives of partner organisations working at the senior housing properties. Qualitative methods were used to collect the data: individual and group interviews, as well as creative participatory workshops. The first interviewees were reached through the properties’ residents’ committees. Recruitment then continued through snowball sampling, with interview participants helping to reach further interviewees. Key Y-Säätiö staff were invited to interviews and a workshop based on their roles and professional backgrounds.

Interviews with residents have provided first-hand knowledge and insights into what older people find meaningful and important in their housing. Staff interviews and a workshop for employees have, in turn, offered perspectives on the issues that stand out for a landlord when discussing good housing for older people. Interviews and workshops also brought to light challenges in housing and in acting as a landlord. The resident and staff interviews complement each other within the research data.

The creative workshops generated in-depth discussions about the meaning of home, housing and the things that matter to participants. These discussions highlighted the central role of home in everyday life and wellbeing. Picture cards were used to support discussion in the workshops.

Home and the residential environment as foundations for wellbeing

The study examines older people’s housing from several perspectives. Residents’ and employees’ experiences highlight both the physical features of the home and its surroundings and the importance of a sense of community and support with housing.

The preliminary thematic content analysis of the data identified five key themes related to housing for older adults.

Key Themes in Housing for Older Adults

1. Residential environment: barrier-free access, pleasant surroundings, spaces, location, safety
2. Meaning of home: wellbeing and safety at home, a sense of security, comfort
3. Residential community: participation and inclusion, neighbourly help, a sense of community
4. Support with housing: work arrangements, housing challenges, staff expertise, communication and accessibility, the landlord’s role
5. Recognising individual needs and life situations: age-friendliness, flexibility, future orientation, different life situations

Residents consider safety in the residential environment important, both in the surrounding neighbourhood and in terms of barrier-free access within the home. This allows them to focus on making their home a meaningful place where they can live life in their own way. They would like their immediate surroundings to offer easy access to services, nature nearby and green spaces in the grounds of their building.

A sense of community and small everyday actions support good housing

In residents’ accounts, a sense of community emerges as a factor that supports wellbeing. Landlords can help create the conditions for this by providing pleasant, accessible communal spaces and supporting resident-led activities. The active voluntary work of residents’ committees plays a central role in organising shared activities.

In the research data, employees highlight opportunities to take an age-friendly approach to their work as a landlord. They believe that wellbeing can be supported through everyday actions that often take little time. They see listening to residents’ concerns and ensuring they feel heard, clear and timely communication, and high-quality property maintenance services as important. Looking ahead, employees consider the possibility of, for example, a dedicated staff member with specialist expertise in supporting older residents and taking age-related factors into account. They also consider it essential that all employees who interact with older residents, regardless of their duties, have the knowledge and understanding needed to provide customer service that takes older people’s particular needs into account.

Employees identify cuts to public resources as a challenge in the current social context, placing pressure on the landlord’s role as well. This raises the question of what support a landlord can provide and what should fall within the remit of social services, for example. Residents also express concern about the effects of public spending cuts on their housing.

Listening to residents is part of age-friendly housing

Employees believe it is easier to respond to residents’ needs when internal communication within the organisation works well and employees understand their own roles and responsibilities. Residents, too, identify effective communication with the landlord and property maintenance company as an important factor in their satisfaction with housing. It is also important to residents that they can participate in and influence plans that affect them, and receive timely information about upcoming changes. This is closely linked to their sense of inclusion.

Residents who took part in the study have expressed their appreciation that their voices are being heard and taken into account when activities are planned. The study is intended to inform future housing planning at Y-Säätiö and to share its findings with other housing providers and organisations.

The research report will be completed at the end of 2026 and will be available on the websites of Y-Säätiö and Miina Sillanpään Säätiö. 

Reference:

Jolanki, O., Suhonen, R., & Rappe, E. (2020). Hyvinvointia ja osallisuutta asuinympäristöjä kehittämällä [Promoting wellbeing and inclusion by developing residential environments]. Gerontologia, 34(4), 349–353. https://journal.fi/gerontologia/article/view/99634