Abstract
A growing body of literature explores the relationship between the built environment and health, and the methodological challenges of understanding these complex interactions across the lifecourse. The impact of the neighbourhood environment on health and behaviour amongst older adults has received less attention, despite this age group being potentially more vulnerable to barriers in their surrounding social and physical environment. A qualitative geographical information systems (QGIS) approach was taken to facilitate the understanding of how older people over 70 in 5 UK towns interact with their local neighbourhood. The concept of neighbourhood changed seasonally and over the lifecourse, and was associated with social factors such as friends, family, or community activities, rather than places. Spaces stretched further than the local, which is problematic for older people who rely on variable public transport provision. QGIS techniques prompted rich discussions on interactions with and the meanings of ‘place’ in older people.
Highlights
There has been growing interest in research exploring the relationship between the built environment and different aspects of individuals’ health, with studies showing the impact of both the physical and social environment, and the methodological challenges of understanding these complex interactions (Rydin et al, 2012; Kestens et al, 2012; Booth et al, 2005; Macintyre et al, 2002; Giles-Corti and Donovan, 2002)
This paper presents the results of a pilot study that explored the applicability of using qualitative geographical information systems (QGIS) techniques to facilitate the understanding of how older people in the UK understand, and interact with, their local neighbourhood; and how these public spaces of ageing interacted with their perceptions of health and wellbeing
The sampling was based on their location of residence (80% centrally located in the town, 20% at the town periphery based on the Office of National Statistics –ONS- urban/rural classification), their physical functioning (80% “third age”, 20% “fourth age” (Laslett, 1996)) and the index of multiple deprivation (IMD) score for the lower layer super output area (LSOA) where participants were residing (50% most deprived/50% least deprived based on the 2000 Index of Multiple Deprivation score (IMD))
Summary
There has been growing interest in research exploring the relationship between the built environment and different aspects of individuals’ health, with studies showing the impact of both the physical and social environment, and the methodological challenges of understanding these complex interactions (Rydin et al, 2012; Kestens et al, 2012; Booth et al, 2005; Macintyre et al, 2002; Giles-Corti and Donovan, 2002) Within this field, the impact of the neighbourhood environment on health behaviours and outcomes of older adults has received relatively little attention, despite potentially being more vulnerable to barriers in their surrounding social and physical environment (Clarke and Nieuwenhuijsen, 2009).
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