Journal article
Intergenerational homesharing between older adults and university students: A scoping review
The Gerontologist, Vol.Advanced access
06-Aug-2026
PMID: 42560862
Abstract
Background and Objectives
Housing needs for older people wishing to age in place and university students are different, yet both groups face unmet needs. To support older adults to remain in their homes longer, many countries have policies for ageing in place with in-home support. Housing affordability, a growing issue globally, leaves older adults and students vulnerable to homelessness or precarious housing. This scoping review aimed to explore the concept of intergenerational homesharing, where older adults share their home with a student.
Research Design and Methods
Using the JBI scoping review methodology, we searched peer-reviewed and grey literature describing homesharing arrangements between people aged 50+ and university students. Searches across six databases identified 1092 publications between 1985 to 2024. Of these 63 sources were eligible for inclusion.
Results
A range of programs have been developed internationally. Older adult participants were more often female, experiencing social isolation, and were apprehensive about the matching process, student behaviour, and financial impacts of programs. Interested students, also more often female, held concerns about loss of independence and differences in expectations. Homeshare participants reported decreased loneliness and isolation, and having enjoyed the experience more than anticipated. Of the few negative outcomes reported, students found support obligations higher than expected.
Discussion, Implications
Homeshare programs are one solution to housing concerns for older adults and university students. Recommendations for homeshare organisations include careful consideration of the matching and relationship development phases, establishing clear written agreements of boundaries and expectations, supporting participants throughout their agreement, and agreement-ending processes.
Details
- Title
- Intergenerational homesharing between older adults and university students: A scoping review
- Authors
- Alison Craswell (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastKaren Watson - University of the Sunshine CoastTamara Sysak - University of the Sunshine CoastKristen Tulloch - University of the Sunshine CoastApil Gurung - University of the Sunshine CoastSusanna Curry - California State University, SacramentoDaniel P Wadsworth - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- The Gerontologist, Vol.Advanced access
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- DOI
- 10.1093/geront/gnag168
- ISSN
- 1758-5341
- PMID
- 42560862
- Copyright note
- © The Author(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Gerontological Society of America. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial reproduction and distribution of the work, in any medium, provided the original work is not altered or transformed in any way, and that the work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.
- Data Availability
- The search strategy and data used in this review will be made available on reasonable email request to the corresponding author.
- Grant note
- This work was supported through a Regional Partnerships Council & Community grant provided by Sunshine Coast Council, Dec 2023.
- Organisation Unit
- Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Health - Nursing; School of Health - Psychology; School of Law and Society
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991250593602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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