Title of my presentation

1
Elderly Refugees Housing History and Meaning of
Home Isabella Morozova, Ph.D. Candidate Universit
y of Denver, Institute of Gerontology

Focus of the study
Methodology
Implications for social work
This is a phenomenological study. Data was
collected in a series of deep in-person
individual interviews. There were 9participants,
both males and females. Purposeful sampling
procedure was applied. The participants of this
study were Russian elderly refugees who live in
subsidized senior/disability apartment complex in
Denver, CO. Moustakass (1994) transcendental
phenomenology method of data analysis was used in
this research.
It is suggested to develop and include
into curricula new courses focused on the nature
and meaning of home for elderly persons and
refugees. These courses should be specially
designed for social workers and other
professionals in the field of gerontology as well
as for those working with refugee populations.
In order to facilitate acceptance, I
recommend practicing empowerment model of social
work with elderly refugees, living in subsidized
housing settings. Next, based on the
findings of this study I argue that existential
therapy has to be incorporated in the social work
with elderly refugees at the very early stages
upon resettlement and cannot be postponed until
practical problems are solved. Further,
upon immigration it is suggested to offer
resettlement in ethnic enclaves, in apartment
buildings where former compatriots and landsmen
live, within geographical proximity from the
adult children. In addition, it is recommended to
provide formal services (for example, English
language classes, citizenship exam preparation
classes) building on informal, naturally
occurring networks and communities.
Regarding the built and natural environment, a
two-bedroom apartment is recommended as a norm
for senior individuals and couples. Concrete ways
of promoting interactions with nature are
discussed. Finally, changes in immigration
policy regarding citizenship test are
recommended.
The focus of this phenomenological study is
Home, as it is experienced existentially by
Russian elderly refugees, in the context of their
everyday life in a subsidized senior apartment
complex, from the perspective of their housing
history. The notion of home has at once both
philosophical and concrete meaning (Benjamin, as
cited in Duncan Lambert, 2004). Therefore, home
is experienced and assigned meaning at both
everyday-life and existential levels. In
addition, home has a temporal dimension. Housing
history approach allows to better understand the
nature and meaning of home, from a temporal
perspective.
Findings

• Based on an analysis of the data, the essence of
  the phenomenon can be understood in terms of
  three major themes
• Home as a Fundamental Place Where Existential
  Needs Are Met
• Home from a Housing History Perspective A
  Process of Creating, Losing, and Creating Home
  Anew
• Potential of the Home Environment to Satisfy
  Existential Needs
• Based on the data, home was considered the
  primary center for satisfaction of existential
  needs grouped around belongingness.
  Belongingness was achieved through (a)
  self-identification of the participants with
  their home environment and (b) their acceptance
  by their home environment. In other words, the
  participants were in a continuous, reciprocal
  relationship with their home environment. As
  stated earlier, the participants self-identified
  themselves with their home environment and
  expected to be accepted by it.
• According to the data, the home environment can
  be characterized by its potential to satisfy
  existential needs The environment can either
  constrain or promote the satisfaction of
  existential needs. Specifically, the environment
  determines (a) the degree of acceptance and (b)
  the degree of freedom to participate in creation
  of ones home.
• Nevertheless, based on the experience of the
  participants, there were times when the principle
  of reciprocity was violated by the environment,
  as when they felt betrayed, rejected, excluded
  and were forced to give up heir authenticity in
  order to be accepted. .

Why is it important?
Home is not a neutral background for
everyday life it impacts the quality of life
of its occupants, the elderly immigrants. The
quality of life of both groups, the elderly
persons and immigrants, is in the center of
attention of The National Association of Social
Workers.
Research Questions

• The primary research question is as follows
• What is the nature and meaning of home for the
  Russian elderly refugees living in a subsidized
  senior/disability apartment complex, in the
  course of their everyday life, experienced by
  them existentially from the perspective of their
  housing history ?
• The secondary research questions, supporting the
  primary questions, are as follows
• How does a subsidized senior/disability apartment
  complex environment address elderly refugees
  existential needs and facilitate harmony in
  relations with self, other people, and nature?
• Which aspects are attributed by Russian elderly
  refugees to their place of dwelling as home?
  Which of these aspects are perceived as most
  important in making this place a home or
  non-home?

Limitations
Generalization is limited. The findings of the
study do not exhaust (and cannot fully exhaust)
all of the potential characteristics of the
phenomenon.