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Papers by Micheline Phlix

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring older migrants’ meaning-making of ‘happiness’: “The main thing is health. Young people might say otherwise.”

Exploring older migrants' meaning-making of 'happiness': "The main thing is health. Young people ... more Exploring older migrants' meaning-making of 'happiness': "The main thing is health. Young people might say otherwise."

Research paper thumbnail of The right place to age Exploring age friendly and diversity sensitive design in a super diverse neighbourhood

The neighbourhood is a significant place for older adults in later life, especially given their s... more The neighbourhood is a significant place for older adults in later life, especially given their strong wish to age in place, pointing to the importance of age-friendly design that accommodates older adults’ changing needs. Moreover, the older population is diversifying, highlighting the additional need for diversity-sensitive design, accommodating older adults’ diverse needs. Considering the importance of public places to age-friendly and diversity-sensitive design, this paper explores design that promotes community connection in an age-friendly and diversity-sensitive manner. To do so, a research-by-design study with master students in (interior) architecture was set up in a super-diverse Belgian neighbourhood. After a pre-design phase that immersed students in the neighbourhood and its inhabitants’ experiences, the students engaged in a design phase. Here, they re-designed various public places in an age-friendly and diversity-sensitive manner. The design output illustrates how various functions and intensities answer the changing and diverse needs of a super-diverse population.

Research paper thumbnail of “I was Basically Deaf-Mute. I felt like a Stranger”: Exploring the Role of Language in Older Migrants’ Sense of Home

Journal of International Migration and Integration

This article explores the role of language in older migrants’ sense of home. The share of older a... more This article explores the role of language in older migrants’ sense of home. The share of older adults with a migration background in Belgium is growing. However, to date, not much is known about older migrants’ sense of home. Looking at language in particular, research suggests that it is linked to identity, possibly affecting one’s sense of home. Therefore, investigating the role of language in older migrants’ sense of home offers a valuable perspective. To explore older migrants’ sense of home, 19 interviews were conducted. During these interviews, the topic of language came up spontaneously. The results show that language among older migrants can concern both a mobility uplift (e.g., creating social and economic opportunities) and a mobility barrier (e.g., obstructing social relations). Concerning the latter, participants discussed resourceful ways to overcome this barrier (e.g., self-made dictionary). Moreover, the interviews revealed the importance of participants’ native language, which also strongly links to identity. This study highlights the transformative influence of super-diversity on the linguistic field. Finally, the results show that the interrelatedness of language, identity, social relations and other characteristics impacts the construction of a sense of home among older adults with a migration background.

Research paper thumbnail of The Happy Home: Ageing, Migration, and Housing in Relation to Older Migrants’ Subjective Wellbeing

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Dec 21, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Research paper thumbnail of Wonen en migratie op latere leeftijd

AGORA Magazine

De wens om thuis oud te worden (‘ageing in place’) is populair bij ouderen,maar hoe zit dat voor ... more De wens om thuis oud te worden (‘ageing in place’) is populair bij ouderen,maar hoe zit dat voor ouderen met een migratieachtergrond? Wat zijn hunwoonervaringen? Hoe staan zij tegenover ‘ageing in place’? Waar en hoe wensenzij oud te worden? En verschilt dit van ouderen zonder migratieachtergrond?

Research paper thumbnail of “I was Basically Deaf-Mute. I felt like a Stranger”: Exploring the Role of Language in Older Migrants’ Sense of Home

Phlix et al. , 2023

This article explores the role of language in older migrants’ sense of home. The share of older a... more This article explores the role of language in older migrants’ sense of home. The share of older adults with a migration background in Belgium is growing. However, to date, not much is known about older migrants’ sense of home. Looking at language in particular, research suggests that it is linked to identity, possibly affecting one’s sense of home. Therefore, investigating the role of language in older migrants’ sense of home offers a valuable perspective. To explore older migrants’ sense of home, 19 interviews were conducted. During these interviews, the topic of language came up spontaneously. The results show that language among older migrants can concern both a mobility uplift (e.g., creating social and economic opportunities) and a mobility barrier (e.g., obstructing social relations). Concerning the latter, participants discussed resourceful ways to overcome this barrier (e.g., self-made dictionary). Moreover, the interviews revealed the importance of participants’ native language, which also strongly links to identity. This study highlights the transformative influence of super-diversity on the linguistic field. Finally, the results show that the interrelatedness of language, identity, social relations and other characteristics impacts the construction of a sense of home among older adults with a migration background.

Research paper thumbnail of Wonen en migratie op latere leeftijd

Phlix et al., 2022

De wens om thuis oud te worden (‘ageing in place’) is populair bij ouderen, maar hoe zit dat voor... more De wens om thuis oud te worden (‘ageing in place’) is populair bij ouderen, maar hoe zit dat voor ouderen met een migratieachtergrond? Wat zijn hun woonervaringen? Hoe staan zij tegenover ‘ageing in place’? Waar en hoe wensen zij oud te worden? En verschilt dit van ouderen zonder migratieachtergrond?

Research paper thumbnail of The Happy Home: Ageing, Migration, and Housing in Relation to Older Migrants' Subjective Wellbeing

Phlix et al., 2023

(1) Background: With an increasingly diversifying ageing population, it is important to understan... more (1) Background: With an increasingly diversifying ageing population, it is important to understand what ‘ageing well’ means to older adults with a migration background. Given older adults’ preference to age in place and declining mobility, housing is a significant place in later life. Therefore, this paper explores the influence of housing, migration, and age on older migrants’ subjective wellbeing, with attention to immaterial aspects such as a sense of home as well. (2) Methods: In-depth interviews with older migrants from various ethnicities (N = 22) were conducted. The data collection and analysis were led by an inductive and deductive approach through thematic analysis. (3) Results: The results point to the dynamic nature of age(ing) and the role of migration background in the subjective wellbeing of older migrants. The need for preserving one’s housing situation and environmental mastery in later life is highlighted. Furthermore, the relation and mutual influence of subjective wellbeing and sense of home is uncovered. (4) Conclusions: This study highlights the intersection of age, migration, and housing to the subjective wellbeing and sense of home of older migrants. In addition, influences on older migrants’ subjective wellbeing concern both a material (i.e., housing) and immaterial (i.e., sense of home, age, migration) base.

Research paper thumbnail of Exploring older migrants’ meaning-making of ‘happiness’: “The main thing is health. Young people might say otherwise.”

Exploring older migrants' meaning-making of 'happiness': "The main thing is health. Young people ... more Exploring older migrants' meaning-making of 'happiness': "The main thing is health. Young people might say otherwise."

Research paper thumbnail of The right place to age Exploring age friendly and diversity sensitive design in a super diverse neighbourhood

The neighbourhood is a significant place for older adults in later life, especially given their s... more The neighbourhood is a significant place for older adults in later life, especially given their strong wish to age in place, pointing to the importance of age-friendly design that accommodates older adults’ changing needs. Moreover, the older population is diversifying, highlighting the additional need for diversity-sensitive design, accommodating older adults’ diverse needs. Considering the importance of public places to age-friendly and diversity-sensitive design, this paper explores design that promotes community connection in an age-friendly and diversity-sensitive manner. To do so, a research-by-design study with master students in (interior) architecture was set up in a super-diverse Belgian neighbourhood. After a pre-design phase that immersed students in the neighbourhood and its inhabitants’ experiences, the students engaged in a design phase. Here, they re-designed various public places in an age-friendly and diversity-sensitive manner. The design output illustrates how various functions and intensities answer the changing and diverse needs of a super-diverse population.

Research paper thumbnail of “I was Basically Deaf-Mute. I felt like a Stranger”: Exploring the Role of Language in Older Migrants’ Sense of Home

Journal of International Migration and Integration

This article explores the role of language in older migrants’ sense of home. The share of older a... more This article explores the role of language in older migrants’ sense of home. The share of older adults with a migration background in Belgium is growing. However, to date, not much is known about older migrants’ sense of home. Looking at language in particular, research suggests that it is linked to identity, possibly affecting one’s sense of home. Therefore, investigating the role of language in older migrants’ sense of home offers a valuable perspective. To explore older migrants’ sense of home, 19 interviews were conducted. During these interviews, the topic of language came up spontaneously. The results show that language among older migrants can concern both a mobility uplift (e.g., creating social and economic opportunities) and a mobility barrier (e.g., obstructing social relations). Concerning the latter, participants discussed resourceful ways to overcome this barrier (e.g., self-made dictionary). Moreover, the interviews revealed the importance of participants’ native language, which also strongly links to identity. This study highlights the transformative influence of super-diversity on the linguistic field. Finally, the results show that the interrelatedness of language, identity, social relations and other characteristics impacts the construction of a sense of home among older adults with a migration background.

Research paper thumbnail of The Happy Home: Ageing, Migration, and Housing in Relation to Older Migrants’ Subjective Wellbeing

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Dec 21, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY

Research paper thumbnail of Wonen en migratie op latere leeftijd

AGORA Magazine

De wens om thuis oud te worden (‘ageing in place’) is populair bij ouderen,maar hoe zit dat voor ... more De wens om thuis oud te worden (‘ageing in place’) is populair bij ouderen,maar hoe zit dat voor ouderen met een migratieachtergrond? Wat zijn hunwoonervaringen? Hoe staan zij tegenover ‘ageing in place’? Waar en hoe wensenzij oud te worden? En verschilt dit van ouderen zonder migratieachtergrond?

Research paper thumbnail of “I was Basically Deaf-Mute. I felt like a Stranger”: Exploring the Role of Language in Older Migrants’ Sense of Home

Phlix et al. , 2023

This article explores the role of language in older migrants’ sense of home. The share of older a... more This article explores the role of language in older migrants’ sense of home. The share of older adults with a migration background in Belgium is growing. However, to date, not much is known about older migrants’ sense of home. Looking at language in particular, research suggests that it is linked to identity, possibly affecting one’s sense of home. Therefore, investigating the role of language in older migrants’ sense of home offers a valuable perspective. To explore older migrants’ sense of home, 19 interviews were conducted. During these interviews, the topic of language came up spontaneously. The results show that language among older migrants can concern both a mobility uplift (e.g., creating social and economic opportunities) and a mobility barrier (e.g., obstructing social relations). Concerning the latter, participants discussed resourceful ways to overcome this barrier (e.g., self-made dictionary). Moreover, the interviews revealed the importance of participants’ native language, which also strongly links to identity. This study highlights the transformative influence of super-diversity on the linguistic field. Finally, the results show that the interrelatedness of language, identity, social relations and other characteristics impacts the construction of a sense of home among older adults with a migration background.

Research paper thumbnail of Wonen en migratie op latere leeftijd

Phlix et al., 2022

De wens om thuis oud te worden (‘ageing in place’) is populair bij ouderen, maar hoe zit dat voor... more De wens om thuis oud te worden (‘ageing in place’) is populair bij ouderen, maar hoe zit dat voor ouderen met een migratieachtergrond? Wat zijn hun woonervaringen? Hoe staan zij tegenover ‘ageing in place’? Waar en hoe wensen zij oud te worden? En verschilt dit van ouderen zonder migratieachtergrond?

Research paper thumbnail of The Happy Home: Ageing, Migration, and Housing in Relation to Older Migrants' Subjective Wellbeing

Phlix et al., 2023

(1) Background: With an increasingly diversifying ageing population, it is important to understan... more (1) Background: With an increasingly diversifying ageing population, it is important to understand what ‘ageing well’ means to older adults with a migration background. Given older adults’ preference to age in place and declining mobility, housing is a significant place in later life. Therefore, this paper explores the influence of housing, migration, and age on older migrants’ subjective wellbeing, with attention to immaterial aspects such as a sense of home as well. (2) Methods: In-depth interviews with older migrants from various ethnicities (N = 22) were conducted. The data collection and analysis were led by an inductive and deductive approach through thematic analysis. (3) Results: The results point to the dynamic nature of age(ing) and the role of migration background in the subjective wellbeing of older migrants. The need for preserving one’s housing situation and environmental mastery in later life is highlighted. Furthermore, the relation and mutual influence of subjective wellbeing and sense of home is uncovered. (4) Conclusions: This study highlights the intersection of age, migration, and housing to the subjective wellbeing and sense of home of older migrants. In addition, influences on older migrants’ subjective wellbeing concern both a material (i.e., housing) and immaterial (i.e., sense of home, age, migration) base.