Designing Age-Friendly Communities: Exploring Qualitative Perspectives on Urban Green Spaces and Ageing in Two Indian Megacities.

Deepti Adlakha,Mina Chandra,Mark A. Tully,Lee Smith,Murali Krishna

doi:10.3390/ijerph18041491

Abstract

The World Health Organization and the United Nations have increasingly acknowledged the importance of urban green space (UGS) for healthy ageing. However, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India with exponential ageing populations have inadequate UGS. This qualitative study examined the relationships between UGS and healthy ageing in two megacities in India. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling in New Delhi and Chennai and semi-structured interviews were conducted with consenting participants (N = 60, female = 51%; age > 60 years; fluent in English, Hindi, or Tamil). Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated, and analysed using inductive and thematic analysis. Benefits of UGS included community building and social capital, improved health and social resilience, physical activity promotion, reduced exposure to noise, air pollution, and heat. Poorly maintained UGS and lack of safe, age-friendly pedestrian infrastructure were identified as barriers to health promotion in later life. Neighbourhood disorder and crime constrained older adults’ use of UGS in low-income neighbourhoods. This study underscores the role of UGS in the design of age-friendly communities in India. The findings highlight the benefits of UGS for older adults, particularly those living in socially disadvantaged or underserved communities, which often have least access to high-quality parks and green areas.

Highlights

Population ageing is a dominant global demographic phenomenon of the 21st century and accelerating at a higher rate than in the past
In 2009, two-thirds of the world’s older persons lived in Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), regions that are much less prepared to deal with this shift in population dynamics compared to high-income countries (HICs) [2]
We investigate the relationships between urban green space (UGS) and healthy ageing in two megacities in India

Summary

Introduction

Population ageing is a dominant global demographic phenomenon of the 21st century and accelerating at a higher rate than in the past. The proportion of older adults (60 years or older) is expected to double by 2050 and more than triple by 2100, rising from 962 million globally in 2017 to 2.1 billion in 2050 and 3.1 billion in 2100 [1]. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are experiencing exponential growth in ageing populations. In 2009, two-thirds of the world’s older persons lived in LMICs, regions that are much less prepared to deal with this shift in population dynamics compared to high-income countries (HICs) [2]. Southeast Asian countries are currently experiencing an ageing trend that is unprecedented in history.

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion