Abstract

BackgroundGiven the challenges of aging populations, calls have been issued for more sustainable urban re-development and implementation of local solutions to address global environmental and healthy aging issues. However, few studies have considered older adults’ daily mobility to better understand how local built and social environments may contribute to healthy aging. Meanwhile, wearable sensors and interactive map-based applications offer novel means for gathering information on people’s mobility, levels of physical activity, or social network structure. Combining such data with classical questionnaires on well-being, physical activity, perceived environments and qualitative assessment of experience of places opens new opportunities to assess the complex interplay between individuals and environments. In line with current gaps and novel analytical capabilities, this research proposes an international research agenda to collect and analyse detailed data on daily mobility, social networks and health outcomes among older adults using interactive web-based questionnaires and wearable sensors.Methods/DesignOur study resorts to a battery of innovative data collection methods including use of a novel multisensor device for collection of location and physical activity, interactive map-based questionnaires on regular destinations and social networks, and qualitative assessment of experience of places. This rich data will allow advanced quantitative and qualitative analyses in the aim to disentangle the complex people-environment interactions linking urban local contexts to healthy aging, with a focus on active living, social networks and participation, and well-being.DiscussionThis project will generate evidence about what characteristics of urban environments relate to active mobility, social participation, and well-being, three important dimensions of healthy aging. It also sets the basis for an international research agenda on built environment and healthy aging based on a shared and comprehensive data collection protocol.

Highlights

  • Given the challenges of aging populations, calls have been issued for more sustainable urban re-development and implementation of local solutions to address global environmental and healthy aging issues

  • This project will generate evidence about what characteristics of urban environments relate to active mobility, social participation, and well-being, three important dimensions of healthy aging

  • It sets the basis for an international research agenda on built environment and healthy aging based on a shared and comprehensive data collection protocol

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Summary

Discussion

This protocol offers key data collection components to unravel the complex interactions between daily mobility, social networks, urban environments, and healthy aging. Relevant data collected includes information on older adults’ regular destinations, social network structure and in-person encounters, daily mobility, physical activity and sedentary behaviour, and qualitative assessment of mobility experiences, on top of more classical selfreported health and perception questionnaires. With such rich data, and contrasted urban settings in different countries, the expected findings are potentially of interest to knowledge users shaping the city and other groups working on the improvement of older adults’ health.

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