Abstract
Urbanisation and population ageing have contributed to recognise cities as important settings for healthy ageing. This paper considers opportunities, challenges and solutions of using photovoice methods for exploring how individuals perceive their cities and the contribution this makes to their health. It focuses on one aspect of older people's experiences – respect and social inclusion, in the context of a community-based participatory research. Drawing on selected findings (participants' photographs, associated quotes and researchers' field notes), we provide an assessment of the suitability of photovoice methodology for the intended purpose. Four groups of older people (n=26; aged 60 years or more) from four contrasting geographical areas in Liverpool, UK, were recruited purposively. Participants photographed perceived positive and negative aspects of respect and social inclusion in the city, reflecting on the meanings of the photographs in individual (n=23) and group interviews (n=9). Thematic and content analysis was conducted using NVivo 10 software.The work reported here provides insights into how participants engage with the photovoice process; factors preventing taking photos of interest; and how photographs complement interviews and focus groups. The findings demonstrate that photovoice both facilitated the dissemination of personalised relevant knowledge, and encouraged critical dialogue between participants, and city stakeholders. Reported difficulties included photography of negative and social concepts, and anxiety when taking photographs due to (i) expectations of what is a ‘proper’ photograph, and (ii) the need to obtain consent from subjects. With preparation, training, and discussion of participants’ ideas not expressed through photographs, photovoice was well-suited to this topic, providing insights complementing other research methods. Through analysing the application of photovoice for exploring perceptions of respect and social inclusion in cities, our paper has identified potential issues and provides important recommendations for researchers on how photovoice methodology can be strengthened in exploring conditions for better health in the urban environment.
Highlights
Urbanisation and population ageing have contributed to recognise cities as important settings for healthy ageing
This study aimed to stimulate collective action and advocacy to affect policy and empowerment by (i) encouraging dialogue between older people and city stakeholders at the exhibition; and (ii) by ensuring that older people's views were brought to the attention of city stakeholders so that they could include their concerns in decision making and planning processes for an age-friendly city (AFC)
These findings demonstrate the utility of photovoice in facilitating (i) older people to articulate what was most important for their respect and social inclusion in their city, and (ii) the dissemination of findings to city stakeholders
Summary
Urbanisation and population ageing have contributed to recognise cities as important settings for healthy ageing. To respond to the opportunities and challenges of an ageing population and increasing urbanisation, the WHO (World Health Organization, 2007) launched the Age Friendly City Initiative, proposing a set of eight interconnected domains that influence the extent to which individuals age healthily. In this context, an age-friendly city (AFC) is a community (comprised of wide-ranging categories of individuals, policies and services), which forms a physical and social environment that supports older people to live independently and contributing to various aspects of community life (World Health Organization, 2007). In the context of AFCs, supporting respect and social inclusion means encouraging people of all ages to cultivate social relationships, participate in the community, have access to resources, and feel valued and part of their community (World Health Organization, 2015)
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