View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Designing Community "Drop-In" Spaces to Foster Social Connection Among Older Adults: A Practitioner's Field Note Report From an Urban Housing District.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Designing Community "Drop-In" Spaces to Foster Social Connection Among Older Adults: A Practitioner's Field Note Report From an Urban Housing District.
Authors: Satoh, Miho1 (AUTHOR) miho.sth@gmail.com
Source: Inquiry (00469580). 4/10/2026, Vol. 63, p1-5. 5p.
Subject Terms: *Qualitative research, *Emotions, *Interpersonal relations, Social capital, Ecology, Prompts (Psychology), Field notes (Science), Social context, Senior housing, Metropolitan areas, Human comfort, Social support, Social isolation, Social participation, Old age
Geographic Terms: Japan
Abstract: Urban communities in Japan are increasingly experiencing social isolation among older adults due to a decline in everyday interaction opportunities. This qualitative case study offers a practitioner-based field note from the Namiki district of Yokohama City, where an informal, open-access "drop-in" space was established to foster social connections among older residents. Over a 10-month period (December 2024–September 2025), a community social worker, an experienced volunteer, and the author engaged with residents through informal conversations, observation of foot traffic, and participation in routine gatherings. No structured interviews were conducted; instead, insights were gleaned from reflective field memos. Five key observations emerged: emotional caution influenced initial participation; minimizing formal roles reduced psychological burden; comfort was prioritized over programed activities; spatial visibility lowered entry barriers; and repeated low-pressure encounters facilitated the transformation of weak social ties into mutual support. This case study illustrates how informal, emotionally accessible spaces integrated into daily life can enhance social connectedness in aging urban communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Inquiry (00469580) is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 192937301
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Designing Community "Drop-In" Spaces to Foster Social Connection Among Older Adults: A Practitioner's Field Note Report From an Urban Housing District.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Satoh%2C+Miho%22">Satoh, Miho</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> miho.sth@gmail.com</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Inquiry+%2800469580%29%22">Inquiry (00469580)</searchLink>. 4/10/2026, Vol. 63, p1-5. 5p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotions%22">Emotions</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+relations%22">Interpersonal relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+capital%22">Social capital</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecology%22">Ecology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prompts+%28Psychology%29%22">Prompts (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Field+notes+%28Science%29%22">Field notes (Science)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+context%22">Social context</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Senior+housing%22">Senior housing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Metropolitan+areas%22">Metropolitan areas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+comfort%22">Human comfort</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+support%22">Social support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+isolation%22">Social isolation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+participation%22">Social participation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Old+age%22">Old age</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Japan%22">Japan</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Urban communities in Japan are increasingly experiencing social isolation among older adults due to a decline in everyday interaction opportunities. This qualitative case study offers a practitioner-based field note from the Namiki district of Yokohama City, where an informal, open-access "drop-in" space was established to foster social connections among older residents. Over a 10-month period (December 2024–September 2025), a community social worker, an experienced volunteer, and the author engaged with residents through informal conversations, observation of foot traffic, and participation in routine gatherings. No structured interviews were conducted; instead, insights were gleaned from reflective field memos. Five key observations emerged: emotional caution influenced initial participation; minimizing formal roles reduced psychological burden; comfort was prioritized over programed activities; spatial visibility lowered entry barriers; and repeated low-pressure encounters facilitated the transformation of weak social ties into mutual support. This case study illustrates how informal, emotionally accessible spaces integrated into daily life can enhance social connectedness in aging urban communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Inquiry (00469580) is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=192937301
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/00469580261441038
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 5
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emotions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social capital
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ecology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Prompts (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Field notes (Science)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social context
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Senior housing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Metropolitan areas
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human comfort
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social support
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social isolation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social participation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Old age
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Japan
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Designing Community "Drop-In" Spaces to Foster Social Connection Among Older Adults: A Practitioner's Field Note Report From an Urban Housing District.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Satoh, Miho
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 10
              M: 04
              Text: 4/10/2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 00469580
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 63
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Inquiry (00469580)
              Type: main
ResultId 1