Older people in deprived areas: Perceptions of the neighbourhood

Abstract

Neighbourhoods contribute significantly to shaping their residents' identities. The neighbourhood may be even more important for older than younger people and has been associated with intensification of feelings about locality and space. In the context of a study that examines the concerns of older people living in areas of England characterised by intense social deprivation, this article explores older people's perceptions of the local environment. Early findings are reported from a survey of older people (n=600) conducted in nine socially deprived neighbourhoods of three cities. The article addresses older people's views in relation to positive and negative aspects of their local environment and the degree to which people regard their neighbourhood as a good place in which to grow old. Three key themes are highlighted: older people's attachment to their neighbourhood, variation between areas, and the impact of place on the quality of older people's daily life.