Beyond basic housing and care: Diverse forms of caregiving through homeshare programs with older adults

• In Event: Aging and the Life Course Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): 13: Institutional Care Arrangements and Experiences

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Older adults comprise the fastest-growing group experiencing homelessness in the United States. Many older adults also have higher caregiving needs that may be addressed, in part, through nonprofit homeshare programs, which use third party organizations to match home seekers with home providers who have available space in their homes to rent. This study examines caregiving in nonprofit homeshare programs.
Methods: This community-engaged study employed in-depth interviews of homeshare staff and participants (n=38) in two homeshare organizations in Northern California. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis.
Findings: Six overlapping themes emerged: (1) contractual caregiving, (2) expansive caregiving (3) financial caregiving, (4) reciprocal caregiving, (5) emergent caregiving, and (6) community caregiving. Contractual caregiving included care services incorporated into a rental agreement. Expansive caregiving involved companionship, nutritional, or other support outside the formal agreement. Financial caregiving involved monetary support incorporated into a formal agreement. Reciprocal caregiving involved mutual emotional, physical, or nutritional support. Emergent caregiving included anticipation for future support. Community caregiving involved nonprofit support for participants’ needs.
Discussion: Very few participants described the support they received and provided as “caregiving,” yet many described how meaningful these forms of support were to help them maintain their health and wellbeing. Homeshare provides a promising program that can help address rising concerns regarding housing instability and care needs by blending housing support and social care. As these issues gain more attention, homeshare programs present an important model for consideration from policymakers, practitioners, and researchers.

Authors

• Angela Perone, University of California-Berkeley

• Susanna Curry, California State University, Sacramento

• Molly Calhoun, California State University, Chico

• Leyi Zhou, University of California, Berkeley

• Army Kieu Vi Ton Nu, University of California, Berkeley

• Caitlin Subijanto, University of California, Berkeley