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Professor Wijekoon's research explores the intricate relationship between aging, social marginalization, and participation. Her work highlights that older adults do not represent a uniformly homogeneous group; rather, their opportunities and experiences are shaped by intersecting social and structural factors. Focusing on the experiences of marginalized older adults, particularly racialized immigrants, she uncovers the complex factors that influence participation in everyday life. Using critical anti-oppressive frameworks, her research challenges the notion that participation difficulties are solely due to individual limitations. Instead, she highlights the social structures and systems that create barriers, advocating for changes to promote equity and inclusion as individuals age. A central theme in her work is 'aging in place,' focusing on how older adults experience their environments and how these environments can reflect and support their cultural identities, social ties, and sense of belonging. Systemic factors such as migration, gentrification, exclusionary policies, and transitions to institutional care all contribute to disruptions in older adults' sense of continuity, which, in turn, affects their participation, belonging, and well-being.
Western University • London, ON, Canada
Engaged in research and teaching in the School of Occupational Therapy.
Streams include Archaeology and Bioarchaeology, and Sociocultural Anthropology.