The Meaning of Social Participation for Daily Mobility in Later Life: an Ethnographic Case Study of a Senior Project in a Swedish Urban Neighbourhood

Vanessa Stjernborg

doi:10.1007/s12126-017-9296-4

Abstract

This paper presents an ethnographic case study that aims to understand the meaning of social participation in a neighbourhood for daily mobility in later life. In the study, the mobility of the participants of a senior-citizen project was monitored over 18 months. The project was founded as a result of a municipal district’s targeting of social sustainability. The results show that social participation had positive effects on the daily mobility of the participants. The implementation of broad-minded thinking from the municipality and the cooperation of various municipal actors were shown to be essential for the positive outcome of this project.

Highlights

Mobility is considered essential in our everyday lives, especially for social participation and managing everyday activities (Levasseur et al 2015; Hjorthol 2013; Schwanen and Ziegler 2011; Ziegler and Schwanen 2011; Mollenkopf et al 2004a, b); and it is central in enabling older people to participate in society (Zeitler et al 2012; Mollenkopf et al 2004a; Mollenkopf et al 2004b)
This paper aims to provide an understanding of the meaning of social participation in a neighbourhood for daily mobility in later life
This study has shown why it is important for communities to work with social participation to support mobility in later life and to include senior citizens in the continuing work for neighbourhood development and for more sustainable communities

Summary

Introduction

Mobility is considered essential in our everyday lives, especially for social participation and managing everyday activities (Levasseur et al 2015; Hjorthol 2013; Schwanen and Ziegler 2011; Ziegler and Schwanen 2011; Mollenkopf et al 2004a, b); and it is central in enabling older people to participate in society (Zeitler et al 2012; Mollenkopf et al 2004a; Mollenkopf et al 2004b). In a comprehensive synthesis of empirical studies on the association of neighbourhood environments with mobility and social participation in later life conducted by Levasseur et al (2015), the researchers emphasise the importance of examining the combination of both mobility and social participation in future studies

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Conclusion