Thinking about space: Methodological considerations for integrating a trauma-informed approach to research with older persons with experiences of homelessness

Serrano, S., Cormier, É., Sussman, T., Bourgeois-Guérin, V., Provost, D., Walsh, C., Mahmood, A., & Canham, S. L. (2022, October). Thinking about space: Methodological considerations for integrating a trauma-informed approach to research with older persons with experiences of homelessness [paper presentation]. Canadian Association on Gerontology 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting, Regina, SK, Canada.  

Abstract

Trauma-informed (TI) research approaches have become one of the predominant approaches when engaging with participants at heightened risk of a trauma history. Yet, despite the relational traumas associated with late life homelessness and trauma exposure while unhoused, little has been written about how the core reflective elements that underpin the TI approach can benefit research in this area. This reflective methodological paper redresses this critical gap by illuminating how TI research practices such as positionality, transformative potential and power can be used to mitigate harm and foster therapeutic benefits within the research process. This paper is part of the Aging in the Right Place Partnership project which explores the extent to which promising homeless practices within three major urban centres in Canada supported aging in the right place/space for a divergent group of older adults with experiences of homelessness. The reflections reported in this paper evolved from our discussions reviewing and debriefing interviews with older persons with experiences of homelessness, site visits and field notes. More specifically we offer our reflections on how we attended to our positionality through “sensing space”, supported transformation through “co-creating space”, and shifted power through “re-constructing space.” We hope our reflections serve to highlight the valuable opportunity that thinking about space may contribute towards attending to the key TI tenants of positionality, transformation and power when conducting research with older homeless persons.