Social participation of seniors: Applying the Framework of Occupational Justice for healthy ageing and a new approach to policymaking

• Published in: Journal of Occupational Science
• Main Authors: Lewis, Emma, Lemieux, Valérie
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Journal of Occupational Science 2020
• Subjects: occupational science; participation; seniors; human rights; Canada; anishina*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1828/12591; https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2020.1843069

Background: Social participation is associated with positive health outcomes for seniors. However, not all seniors may be able to achieve a satisfactory level of participation. Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the social participation of seniors within the Framework of Occupational Justice (FOJ) to promote an occupational perspective to policymaking. Methods: This study employed a deductive and inductive thematic content analysis of seniors’ responses from focus group data that looked at seniors’ experiences with social participation in Montreal, Canada. Twelve focus groups for a total of 111 participants from diverse backgrounds were analyzed. Results: The analysis revealed structural and contextual factors that can enable or prevent social participation. Potential enablers to social participation include the presence of individual community support workers, the design and accessibility of the physical environment, and programs tailored to seniors’ needs. Underlying occupational determinants identified as barriers are related to cultural values and policies tied to ageism. Inductive reasoning also yielded new, neutral, occupational outcomes for the FOJ. Conclusion: When applying the FOJ to a diverse population, there is the possibility of a spectrum of occupational outcomes, which shifts the perspective from the polarity of rights and injustices currently presented in the FOJ. In terms of social policy, social participation is viewed as a right and that public policy can work towards promoting this right. We honour and thank the Kanien’kehà:ka (Mohawk) and the Anishinabeg (Algonquin) peoples as the traditional inhabitants of the lands of Tiohtiá:ke, Montreal, where this research was conducted. The authors thank the participants for their time and insights provided on their experiences with social participation. The principal author expresses her sincere gratitude to Dr. Nigel Livingston and Dr. Nathan Lachowsky in the School of Public Health and Social Policy of the University of Victoria, and Dr. Marika ...