Environmental Gerontology Research Articles

An ecological approach to the development of an active aging measurement in urban areas (AAMU)

BackgroundAn essential element in the process of “aging well” is the concept of Active Aging (AA). To propose an operational definition of Active Aging, the present study seeks to develop a new measurement tool through an ecological approach. The aim is to recognize significant indicators that play a role in assessing AA in urban areas.MethodsThis study was conducted through a two-phase process of consensus-building: 1) identifying a set of indicators that were likely candidates for inclusion based on literature review, and 2) a two-round modified Delphi survey using an international panel of academic experts in environmental sciences and gerontology to achieve consensus on the importance of the extracted indicators and validate the items. The panelists were asked to complete a researcher-developed questionnaire with an 11-point Likert scale based on the indicators derived in phase 1. Finally, the Delphi survey’s valid indicators and criteria were utilized to develop the measurement tool.ResultsAt the outset, a list of 111 indicators of AA was prepared through the desk study. A panel of 22 experts reviewed the extracted items and arrived at a consensus on 99 items in the first round and finalised in the second round. Thematic analysis of the panelists’ open-ended responses revealed new concepts that would be explicitly considered by the consensus group. This developed measurement scale consists of five domains, i.e., individual, spatial, socio-economic, governance, and health-related, which contain 15 criteria and 99 indicators.ConclusionsThe present researchers have developed the active aging measure for urban settlements (AAMU), which can be used both by policy-makers and as an informal self-reported statement among the elderly. AAM’s results in the elderly’s residential environmental communities can improve policy-making to address urban design to sustain an active, healthy life among older people in urban environments.

Older People, Town Centres and the Revival of the ‘High Street’

ABSTRACT Concern for the future of town centres and their retail cores, the ‘high street’, is not new. Responses to this have often been somewhat one dimensional, focusing on their role as places of consumption, employment, leisure and heritage. We consider the potential multiple roles of older people in helping revive and rejuvenate town centres given the centrality of place for healthy supportive living, community and social participation and ‘ageing in place’. Taking an environmental gerontology perspective, we ask whether the WHO age friendly cities/communities’ framework should be considered further in approaches to reviving town centres in a post-Covid-19 world.

Living Through Decline: Resident Perceptions of Change Within Cleveland’s Urban Neighborhoods

Despite the vast amount of research focused on neighborhoods within the environmental gerontology, very little attention has been paid to learning how older residents make sense of and describe the changes that have occurred within their communities over the course of their lives. The purpose of this study was to provide a space for residents to tell their stories of what it was like to live through neighborhood decline within Cleveland. Older adults are an ideal group for examining perceptions of neighborhood decline as they have the perspective to address both the historical changes of their neighborhood and the biographical changes of their lives. This study utilized data from 4 years of ethnographic observations with over 30 older (age 60+), African-American adults who have aged in place within Cleveland since their childhood. Additionally, multiple in-depth life history interviews were conducted with 13 long-term residents. Data was analyzed using grounded theory techniques for emergent themes. While each resident had their own unique perspective of neighborhood change, common themes emerged related to 1) institutional decline, 2) changes in safety and crime and 3) changes to the people living in their communities. The findings suggest that resident perceptions can help us better understand how neighborhood dynamics work their way into the lives of long-term residents. The results are particularly important as they provide the foundation for exploring how residents responded to neighborhood decline and why residents remained within their neighborhoods when so many others left.

Affordable Rental Housing and Older Adults: A Case Study for Community Development Initiatives

Older adults living in rental housing with limited income are at-risk for experiencing life-course disruptions, including social isolation, loneliness and homelessness. To address these needs, one Vancouver-based affordable housing provider for older adults has implemented community development initiatives (CDIs), including resident-led community gardens, workshops, and social events. Based on data from three focus groups, resulting in a total of fifteen participants, this study explored the efficacy of five different CDIs in supporting residents’ social connection and sense of community. Findings revealed that CDIs contribute to increased social engagement and inclusion of older adults living in affordable rental housing. In particular, resident-led community gardens were identified as the most impactful CDI in supporting both social engagement and inclusion, with the added benefit of addressing resident’s food insecurity. We discuss how CDIs can be implemented in various housing settings for low-income older adults as an effective method of supporting aging-in-the-right place. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Environmental Gerontology Interest Group.

Uncovering Promising Practices for Supporting Older People Experiencing Homelessness

Montréal, Calgary, and Vancouver have seen a dramatic increase in homelessness among adults aged 50+. In order to identify ‘promising practices’ that promote aging-in-the-right-place for older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH) in Montréal, Calgary, and Vancouver, we conducted an environmental scan and three World Café workshops with 99 service providers and OPEH. We identified 53 promising practices managed or operated by 42 providers which we categorized across a shelter/housing continuum: 1) Emergency/transitional/temporary shelter/housing; 2) Independent housing with offsite supports; 3) Supported independent housing with onsite, non-medical supports; 4) Permanent supportive housing with onsite medical support and/or specialized services; 5) Long-term care; and 6) Palliative care/hospice. Study findings provide a template for existing solutions to the diverse shelter/housing needs of OPEH and insight into the gaps in shelter/housing and services that would support OPEH to age-in-the-right place. Policy and practice implications for scaling promising practices will be discussed. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Environmental Gerontology Interest Group.

Shelter and Housing Options, Supports, and Interventions for Older People Experiencing Homelessness

While older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH) can have life histories of homelessness or experience homelessness for the first time in later life, understandings of shelter/housing models that meet diverse needs of this population are limited. We conducted a scoping review of the international literature on shelter/housing models available to support OPEH. Through an iterative process of reading and rereading 24 sources (published 1999-2019), findings were organized into 5 categories of shelter/housing models that have been developed to support OPEH: 1) Permanent supportive housing (PSH), including PSH delivered through Housing First, 2) Transitional housing, 3) Shelter settings with medical supports, 4) Drop-in centers, and 5) Case management and outreach. Findings expand our understanding of how a continuum of shelter/housing options are needed to support distinct health and housing needs of diverse OPEH. Policy and practice implications related to integrating health and social care to support OPEH to age-in-the-right-place will be discussed. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Environmental Gerontology Interest Group.

Conceptualizing the Shelter and Housing Needs and Solutions of Older People Experiencing Homelessness

Newly and chronically homeless older adults have unique pathways into homelessness and distinct physical, mental, and social needs. Using a five-step process, we conducted a scoping review of primary research to investigate the needs and solutions for sheltering/housing older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH). Thematic analysis of data from 19 sources revealed 1) shelter/housing needs and challenges of newly vs. chronically homeless older adults; 2) existing shelter/housing solutions addressing the needs of OPEH, including Housing First, permanent supportive housing, and multiservice homelessness intervention programs; and 3) outcomes of rehousing OPEH. Following, we developed a conceptual model which outlines how unique health and psychosocial needs of newly and chronically homeless older adults can be met through appropriately-designed shelter/housing solutions with individualized levels of senior-specific support. Future shelter/housing initiatives and strategies should use a rights-based approach and prioritize matching diverse OPEH needs to appropriate shelter/housing options that will support their ability to age-in-the-right-place. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Environmental Gerontology Interest Group.

Reframing Aging-in-the-Right-Place for Housing Insecure Older Adults

Amidst rising costs of housing and changing personal needs, considerations of the availability of appropriate and accessible housing are becoming increasingly salient for older adults. While it has been widely acknowledged that older adults would prefer to age-in-place, recent reframing of this trend promotes the ideal as aging-in-the-right-place. This symposium will provide an updated understanding of how to support older adults’ ability to age-in-the-right-place, regardless of income or physical, mental, or social status. Presenters include international and interdisciplinary researchers representing perspectives from gerontology, social work, community planning, and health sciences. The symposium will begin with Wada examining resilience scholarship, with a focus on older people who are experiencing homelessness, which has been largely neglected. In the next presentation, Humphries will outline distinct, senior-specific needs and shelter/housing solutions for newly and chronically homeless older adults. Following, Canham will describe promising practices of shelter/housing to support aging-in-the-right-place for older people experiencing homelessness in Montréal, Calgary, and Vancouver identified through an environmental scan. Extending these efforts to an international scale, Mahmood will outline findings from a scoping review of supportive shelter/housing options, supports, and interventions. A final presentation will report on how community development practices implemented by a not-for-profit affordable housing provider promote older tenants’ food security and social support needs. Stephen Golant, a leading expert on housing, geography, and long-term needs on older adults, will discuss implications of these studies for policy and practice for supporting housing insecure older adults while advancing scholarship on aging-in-the-right-place for this marginalized population. Environmental Gerontology Interest Group Sponsored Symposium.

Advancing the Concept of Resilience for Older People Who Are Experiencing Homelessness

Current conceptualizations of resilience have overlooked the lived expertise of older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH) – individuals who have much insight to offer in terms of progressing notions on how people ‘stand up’ to adversity and ‘bounce back’ to a state of physical and psychological homeostasis across the life course. Drawing from extant literature and data from a community-engaged research project, which interviewed 40 participants and examined the health supports needed for individuals experiencing homelessness upon hospital discharge, we provide a comparison of resilience among homeless individuals generally and resilience among OPEH. Based on narratives of significant adversity experienced by OPEH in Vancouver, Canada, we offer a critical analysis of ‘resilience in ecological context’ that identifies unique characteristics of resilience at micro, meso, exo, and macro system levels. We discuss how our conceptual model of resilience pertinent to OPEH can be used to shape research, policy, and practice. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Environmental Gerontology Interest Group.

Giving Voice to the Environment as the Silent Partner in Aging: Examining the Moderating Roles of Gender and Family Structure in Older Adult Wellbeing.

Gerontological scholarship has long seen the environment to be a silent partner in aging. Environmental Gerontology, an established approach in Social Gerontology, has shown how the everyday lives of older adults are deeply entangled in socio-spatial environments. Adopting an Environmental Gerontology approach, we explore social and cultural dimensions of the association between out-of-home mobility and wellbeing among older adults in a north western city of India. This was established by combining high resolution time-space data collected using GPS receivers, questionnaire data and time diaries. Following a multi-staged analytical strategy, we first examine the correlation between out-of-home mobility and wellbeing using bivariate correlation. Second, we introduce gender and family structure into regression models as moderating variables to improve the models’ explanatory power. Finally, we use our results to reinterpret the Ecological Press Model of Aging to include familial structure as a factor that moderates environmental stress. Findings emphasize the central role that social constructs play in the long-established relationship between the environment and the wellbeing of older adults.

Measuring the Built Environment for Aging in Place: A Review of Neighborhood Audit Tools

What audit tools are available to assess neighborhood suitability for aging in place? Drawing on theories from environmental gerontology, the article outlines physical and social environmental characteristics influencing aging. Eight research audit tools and three community/practitioner tools were identified using a Boolean search strategy. They emphasize walkability and the physical attributes of places. Areas for further development include addressing specific features related to aging, a wider range of environments, additional physical and social dimensions, and conducting audits using technologies and participatory processes to better incorporate aging experiences. For planners, these audit tools raise awareness of how environments can better support aging populations.

An Intergenerational Approach to Perceived Housing

Based on concepts from environmental gerontology and life-span psychology, this study aims at comparing perceived housing and person-environment (p-e) fit across three age groups. Young (20–30 years old; n = 125), young-old (55–65 years old; n = 42) and old-old adults (80–90 years old; n = 21) filled in an online or paper-pencil questionnaire on perceived housing and p-e fit. As expected, ANOVAs revealed significant differences in perceived housing between young and young-old adults and between young and old-old adults, but not between young-old and old-old adults. Social and comfort p-e fit contributed significantly to the prediction of perceived housing, while basic p-e fit did not. These findings show the relevance of differentiated assessments of housing processes to foster an age-group related understanding of housing needs and preferences in practice.

Advancing understanding of person-environment interaction in later life: One step further

PurposeThis paper reconsiders the existing conceptual frameworks and models in environmental gerontology and takes a step forward towards a comprehensive and integrative understanding of person-environment (P-E) exchange processes in later life. Design and methodsAfter briefly reviewing key existing models and important developments in the field, we move forward towards conceptual optimization and specification emphasizing on the processes of P-E exchange, outcomes of these processes and consideration of time, illustrated with three scenarios. The paper concludes with an outlook on future directions. Discussion and implicationsThe conceptual framework presented here advances previous theoretical work in P-E exchange in later life by incorporating the constructs of agency and belonging representing the processes, identity and autonomy as outcomes and linking them with the primary components, i.e. individual, social, built environmental and technological factors. Case studies of older adults' representing a range of functional status in multiple settings illustrate the application of the conceptual framework's key components. The framework also explicitly addresses the relevance of the temporal aspect in P-E exchange.

SOCIAL NETWORK BY ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN: FACILITATING THERAPEUTIC EFFECT IN LTCF FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING DEMENTIA

The relationship between the physical environment and the prevalence of social interaction have been a core topic of inquiry in environmental gerontology. It has been estimated that around 25 million people worldwide have dementia, and the number will exceed 80 million by 2040. A growing body of literature in the areas of environment-behavior studies shows that the physical environment affects positive behavioral changes, in turn, affecting individual, group and organizational outcomes, but little research has focused on older adults especially those with cognitive impairment by targeting the Dementia Enabling Environment of care facilities. By using non-pharmacological interventions, the purpose of this study is to initiate positive social network among dementia residents and staff by analyzing the spatial configuration of the physical environment and layout in long-term care facilities (LTCF). The findings may give evidence-based design guidelines for future research and design of memory care facilities to promote therapeutic experience for older people experiencing early to moderate stage dementia. Using a 3-stage, multi-method research design such as space syntax, behavior mapping techniques and direct observations, this study objectively measured the spatial configuration of LTCF (physical environment) to evaluate the provision of social interactions (among dementia residents and staff), promote positive health outcomes and healthy living for people experiencing early to moderate stage dementia. This study was able to establish that the architectural layout and environmental design could have a positive and protective effect against dementia in environmental gerontology and geriatrics.

AGING, DISASTERS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT: ROLE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

Continuing changes in the world’s climate put the older adult population more at risk than other age groups. Multiple circumstances such as disasters and environmental events brought about by climate change impair the ability of older adults to maintain healthy physical and psychological well-being. Unfortunately, during these times, public and individual emergency preparation plans often fall short of having the needed resources to reach out and offer assistance to older adults. Co-sponsored by the Environmental Gerontology and Disasters and Older Adults Interest Groups, four presenters will highlight multiple circumstances where older adults face serious physical and psychological consequences as a result of climate change issues: 1) the loss of electrical power and its impact on hypothermia and hyperthermia in older adults, 2) the loss of basic public health services after Hurricane Maria and its contribution to older adults’ reduced psychological well-being including increased levels of suicide, 3) homeless older adults experiencing a disaster and their resulting increased need for resources, and 4) older adults in the path of violent tornadoes and their ability to cope on their own. These presenters will discuss actions, interventions, and development of emergency disaster preparation plans that would be beneficial for older adult response and recovery. The fifth paper will review the theoretical backgrounds of and previous studies on Anthropocene with a focus on climate change policy and practice. Collectively, these papers will address various means by which older adults are affected by climate change and optimal practices to speed recovery.

INTEREST GROUP SESSION—ENVIRONMENTAL GERONTOLOGY: PRECARIOUS AGING IN PLACE? CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON AGING IN CONTEXTS OF INSTABILITY

Population aging and longevity in an era of immense environmental instability raises concerns about the precarity of aging and insecurity in later life. From home- and neighborhood-level insecurities to uncertainties generated by climate change or broad economic and sociopolitical upheaval across the globe, the factors contributing to instabilities relevant to older populations are heterogeneous in scale and cause. This symposium focuses on understanding older people’s needs and experiences in the context of unstable social, economic, political, and natural environments. The first paper investigates effects of socio-environmental disruption on the well-being, recovery, and resilience of older adults in Louisiana and Mississippi deeply affected by Hurricane Katrina. The second paper explores the confinement, exclusion, and loss of autonomy, as well as the creative negotiation and sociopolitical reclamation of space, among disabled older adults experiencing houselessness. The third paper discusses filmmaking with formerly homeless older adults as a method to engage marginalized individuals in community-based participatory research and better understand nuanced meanings of ‘home’. The fourth paper explores how transportation and technology can serve as both facilitators and barriers to accessibility and social connectivity among ethnically diverse low-income older adults. Altogether, the papers critically discuss novel scholarship and applied research in environmental gerontology from the micro to macro scale. The symposium inspires methodological innovation and critical research directions, and informs place-based policymaking to address diverse contexts of aging in place.

Using Citizen Science to Explore Neighbourhood Influences on Ageing Well: Pilot Project.

Outdoor and indoor environments impact older people’s mobility, independence, quality of life, and ability to “age in place”. Considerable evidence suggests that not only the amount, but also the quality, of public green spaces in the living environment is important. The quality of public green spaces is mostly measured through expert assessments by planners, designers and developers. A disadvantage of this expert-determined approach is that it often does not consider the appraisals or perceptions of residents. Daily experience, often over long periods of time, means older residents have acquired insider knowledge of their neighbourhood, and thus, may be more qualified to assess these spaces, including measuring what makes a valued or quality public green space. The aim of this Australian pilot study on public green spaces for ageing well was to test an innovative citizen science approach to data collection using smart phones. “Senior” citizen scientists trialed the smart phone audit tool over a three-month period, recording and auditing public green spaces in their neighbourhoods. Data collected included geocoded location data, photographs, and qualitative comments along with survey data. While citizen science research is already well established in the natural sciences, it remains underutilised in the social sciences. This paper focuses on the use of citizen science with older participants highlighting the potential for this methodology in the fields of environmental gerontology, urban planning and landscape architecture.

Basic Determinants of ‘Aging in Place’ in the Context of Environmental Gerontology and Its Correlation with the Process of Active Aging

'Yerinde Yaşlanma' kavramı, genellikle, yaşlanırken evde kalabilmek için ideal olan politikayı ifade etmek için kullanılır. Yerinde yaşlanmanın felsefesi, evde yaşam ortamının sürekliliğini, toplumda bağımsızlığın korunmasını ve sosyal içermeyi kapsamaktadır. Çevresel gerontoloji alanında çalışan bilim insanları, bireylerin yaşlandıkça, yaşadıkları mekânın fiziksel ve sosyal ortamına daha fazla bağlandıklarını iddia etmektedir. Söz konusu çevresel bağlam ile kişisel kimlik arasındaki etkileşimin yansımaları, çeşitli sosyal, psikolojik ve fiziksel konular bağlamında gözlemlenebilmektedir. Sağlık ve sosyal bakım maliyetlerini sınırlandırmaya yönelik finansal zorunluluklar tarafından bakımevinde kalmaya yönlendirilmelerine rağmen, yaşlı insanlar da, genellikle, yerinde yaşlanmayı tercih etmektedir. Yaşadığı çevredeki sivil faaliyetlere katılım, yaşlıların sosyal ilişkilerini sürdürmelerini, mahalle etkinliklerine ve politikalarına katılmaya devam etmelerini sağlayarak, yerinde yaşlanmanın önemli bir belirleyicisi olmaktadır. Bu çerçevede, makalemizde, öncelikle, çevresel gerontoloji literatüründeki kuramsal tartışma ve bulgulardan hareketle “yerinde yaşlanma” olgusunun temel belirleyicileri üzerinde durulacaktır. Makalemizin ikinci kısmında ise, yerinde yaşlanma olgusunun aktif yaşlanma süreciyle ilişkisi tartışılacak ve sosyal etkileri değerlendirilecektir.

Physical and emotional support of the neighborhood for older adults: A comparison of the United States and Germany

The living environment plays a critical role in healthy aging. As older adults' physical abilities decrease, they are less likely to compensate for physical barriers and their action radius decreases. Therefore, older adults strongly depend on the neighborhood to meet their needs. The neighborhood environment also has a role to play in the fulfillment of older adults' emotional needs, which are key to successful aging in place. Further, historical differences in the built environment in the United States vs. Europe may lead to different expectations of need-fulfillment in different countries. The aim of this study was to shed light on older adults' (N = 577, ages 70+) living situations and their demands on the neighborhood in two countries, the United States (n = 350) and Germany (n = 227). Differences between countries were more pronounced than differences between age groups or living areas, indicating that cultural influence is a key aspect of needs assessment for neighborhood design. In line with the literature in environmental gerontology, participants' needs spanned across various dimensions related to the physical, social and psychological environment, which we categorized into global, local, and social needs. As opposed to Americans, Germans had higher expectations of their immediate neighborhood to fulfill their local (e.g., public transportation) and social needs (e.g., family nearby), but countries did not differ regarding global needs such as safety. Our findings suggest that successful aging in place can be supported by a neighborhood that takes people's cultural backgrounds into consideration when defining and meeting their needs.

Envejecimiento demográfico y exclusión social en barrios obreros degradados de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

El objeto de estudio de este artículo lo constituye la caracterización de la vulnerabilidad urbana de dos barrios obreros de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: San Nicolás y La Isleta. El ciclo de vida de dichos barrios y el de sus vecinos corren paralelamente, de forma que el envejecimiento de sus poblaciones y de su tejido habitacional se muestra como un signo de obsolescencia y de atonía urbana y demográfica en la capital de Gran Canaria (España). Para definir el estado actual de vulnerabilidad que los afecta, en esta investigación se utilizan técnicas cuantitativas y cualitativas de análisis. Las primeras permiten el estudio sociodemográfico (Censo de Población y del Padrón) y de su tejido habitacional y urbano (Censo de Viviendas y Catastro); las segundas (entrevistas y grupos de discusión) ofrecen el testimonio de sus residentes en relación con su sentimiento de pertenencia a dichos barrios. Los resultados de la investigación desarrollada muestran el interés de la gerontología ambiental, a nivel de microescala, para diagnosticar situaciones que requieren un tratamiento diferenciado en ámbitos urbanos, con la intención de paliar la vulnerabilidad y contribuir a la construcción de ciudades más justas desde un punto de vista social y espacial.