ABSTRACT
This study compared the friendship interaction of older residents of age-segregated, inner city, high rise public housing to residents of private housing elsewhere in metropolitan Melbourne. All respondents (N = 149) lived alone, had mobility limitations, and had low incomes. Logistic regression analysis, controlling for individual characteristics, showed that the age-segregated sample had relatively more interaction with friends and had less risk of isolation from friends. As predicted by the environmental docility model, age-segregated housing in an inner city location appears to facilitate friendships, particularly for people rendered vulnerable in old age. Housing and planning policies can provide residential environments which facilitate friendship and well-being. Further research is needed to explore the meaning of friendship in different residential contexts.
