Self-esteem and social motivation in age-segregated settings

This paper is concerned with daily life and social negotiation within shelt ered housing. The focus of research was to explore tenants' social interact ions as older people and as members of a small community, in order to under stand better how such settings affect quality of life and environmental mea ning in later life. Research took place in three similar sized London schem es, all within the social rented sector. One scheme is managed by a local a uthority housing department, the other two by different housing association s. Analysis reveals that sheltered housing has significant social consequen ces in respect of tenants' experiences of this setting as a communal, age-s egregated environment. In particular, exploration of the subject of self-es teem in respect to these aspects of the environment highlights both positiv e and negative features of social life in sheltered housing. Conclusions ar e reached that in evaluating this form of housing, and any such provision s et up exclusively for older people, researchers and providers must pay grea ter attention to the subject of social interaction, and its benefits and ch allenges to older people.