RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The age-friendly cities and communities (AFCC) agenda has led to a range of policy initiatives aimed at supporting aging in place for older people. While there is case study evidence of how people age across urban contexts, there has been little research exploring cross-national understandings of age-friendly places among older people. The objective of this article is to identify the place experiences of older people living across cities and communities in India, Brazil, and the United Kingdom and to discuss implications for the AFCC agenda. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 300 semistructured interviews were undertaken with older people across 9 cities and 27 communities in India, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis undertaken by each national team and then discussed and revised at collaborative workshops with researchers from each of the 3 country teams. RESULTS: The data capture the ways in which place is constructed from the perspective of older people drawing upon social, community, and cultural dimensions of aging across diverse urban environments. We explore how older people negotiate place in the context of their everyday life and identify the relational and interconnected ways in which place attachment, belonging, and identity are constructed. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Age-friendly interventions need to attend to the changing physical, social and cultural dimensions of aging and place. Integrated place-making practices are required to support older people to age in the right place across rapidly transforming urban contexts globally.
Assuntos
Envelhecimento , Vida Independente , Idoso , Brasil , Cidades , Humanos , Reino UnidoRESUMO
The multidimensionality of the aging process involves changes in different capacities. The age-friendly cities strategy addressed the need for adaptations in urban spaces that meets the demands of older people's well-being. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore how Participative Mapping and World Café techniques could assist in identifying challenges to the delivery of services and resources to create communities that promote active aging, from the perspectives of older people and stakeholders. The techniques generated co-constructed discussion and shared understandings about the barriers residents face in negotiating and accessing services. Demands associated with the precariousness of local infrastructure, the absence of leisure activities, and a generalized feeling of insecurity in their neighborhoods were recurring themes. The demands led to the conclusion that for healthy aging, the interrelation of objective and subjective factors that take into account the multidimensionality of old age will enable the active participation.
A multidimensionalidade do processo de envelhecimento envolve mudanças em distintas capacidades. A estratégia de cidades amigáveis ao envelhecimento prevê a necessidade de adaptações nos espaços urbanos que atendam às demandas de bem-estar da pessoa idosa. Assim, o objetivo desse estudo foi explorar como as técnicas de Mapeamento Participativo e World Café poderiam auxiliar na identificação de desafios para a oferta de serviços e recursos para criar comunidades promotoras de envelhecimento ativo, a partir da perspectiva de idosos e stakeholders. As técnicas geraram discussões coconstruídas e entendimentos compartilhados sobre as barreiras enfrentadas ao negociar e acessar os serviços. Demandas associadas à precariedade da infraestrutura local, à ausência de atividades de lazer e a um sentimento generalizado de insegurança foram temas recorrentes. As demandas levaram à conclusão de que para o envelhecimento saudável, a interrelação de fatores objetivos e subjetivos que considerem a multidimensionalidade da velhice possibilitará a participação ativa dessa população.
La multidimensionalidad del proceso de envejecimiento implica cambios en diferentes capacidades. La estrategia de ciudades amigables con las personas mayores prevé la necessidad de adaptaciones en los espacios urbanos que respondan a las demandas del bienestar de las personas mayores. Así, el objetivo de este estudio fue explorar cómo las técnicas de Mapeo Participativo y World Café podrían ayudar a identificar desafíos para la prestación de servicios y características para crear comunidades que promuevan el envejecimiento activo, desde la perspectiva de las personas mayores y stakeholders. Las técnicas generaron discusiones co-construidas y entendimientos compartidos sobre las barreras que enfrentan los residentes para negociar y acceder a los servicios. Las demandas asociadas a la precariedad de la infraestructura local, la ausencia de actividades de esparcimiento y un sentimiento generalizado de inseguridad en sus barrios fueron temas recurrentes. Las demandas llevaron a la conclusión de que para un envejecimiento saludable, la interrelación de factores objetivos y subjetivos que tienen en cuenta la multidimensionalidad de la vejez permitirá la participación activa.