Socio-psychological models of successful ageing emphasize life satisfaction, social participation and functioning as the keys to ageing successfully. Some studies suggest that maintaining social participation in late life has a positive influence on quality of life, psychological wellbeing, health, cognitive functioning and life expectancy. However, there is an increasing trend for older people to live alone, some of them in unsafe and insecure environments. The purpose of the paper is to identify factors that hinder or support the social participation of older persons living in the community. The importance of older people’s engagement in physical, social and productive activities was studied. Opportunities for older people socialize in the housing environment were explored. These tasks were carried out through literature review.