92

The paper argues the importance of the material environment in maintaining the capacities of poor seniors. Poverty intensifies the ordeal of old age. Based on an extended ethnographic survey in a residential home, we posit the hypothesis that concrete conditions of the residence as well as occupation status directly affect the capacities of poor seniors. Remaining autonomous is based on a triple relationship: between the residents and their concrete living space, between the residents themselves, and between the residents and the caregivers. We demonstrate the chaos experienced by poor seniors living in an apartment of their own in the residential home. The occupation status as a renter provides protection (modest rent, lease, rights to social benefits) but doesn’t ensure the respect of the residents’ intimacy. And this status remains fragile as individuals need to have the material and financial ability to furnish their apartment, the home is dilapidated, and the caregivers have the right of inspection regarding the seniors’ apartments and household budgets. However, the collective living space does facilitate socializing and solidarity between the residents and with the caregivers, to whom the residents feel close regarding social background. They experience tactics to live there in spite of problems. All of which serves to absorb the impact of the ordeal of advanced age.