Mundane mobilities in later life - Exploring experiences of everyday trip-making by older adults in a Dutch urban neighbourhood

Abstract

Mobility in later life is key to ageing actively and well. Mobility is not merely about moving around, but is related to aspects such as perceived reasons for trip-making, feelings of (in)security and (lack of) confidence, and social and spatial knowledge. Through adopting a relational and contextual perspective, the complexities and nuances of everyday mobility can be uncovered. In this context, the aim of this paper is to examine how older adults experience their everyday trip-making in the interplay between increasing losses and deficits in the process of ageing, and characteristics of the environment in which they perform daily activities. We draw on an exploratory study with older adults living in a suburban post-war neighbourhood in the Northern Netherlands. Methods used include in-depth interviews and neighbourhood walks. We found that mundane and everyday routines and practices at the level of the body and neighbourhood are pertinent to the everyday mobility and quality of life of older adults. In conclusion, we emphasise the relationality of experienced mobility based on how older adults assessed their daily perception of fitness and the various aspects that comprised the trip to be made, i.e. social, physical and affective. To facilitate mundane mobilities in later life, it is important that accessible, clearly structured and predictable urban environments are provided, as these allow older adults to make daily use of their neighbourhood on their own terms.