Exploration of the built environment of age-friendly communities: A Photovoice Study

Abstract

With the rapid development of rapid urbanization and ageing population, it is very important to actively promote the construction of a safe, comfortable, convenient and agefriendly environment for the elderly. However, older adults are associated with declining health through illnesses and functional decline with age. Neighborhood environment has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of older adults. Therefore, identifying and creating supportive environments that foster connections between older adults and the environment they live in for aging well. Photovoice as a research methodology is used in this article, which can offer participants an opportunity to reflect on personal and community strengths, create critical dialogue, share knowledge about personal and community issues, and develop and host a forum for the presentation of their lived experiences and priorities through images, language, and context. This pilot study uses the method of Photovoice to explore aspects of the neighborhood built environment considered by older adults as important in facilitating ageing in place. Through the perspective of the elderly, each participant was asked to take photos that illustrated age-friendly features they considered essential for supporting their lives in the community. A total of 32 older adults take part in this research who live in the high-density built environment community in Shanghai, China and 196 photos were collected. Subsequently, they write participated in a follow-up individual interview and discussed the positive or negative built environment that affects their daily activities. All photographs, photo journals and additional write-ups were then collected, organized and coded by researchers. The content of the interviews was analyzed by natural language processing and semantic network analysis. And then the processed text was completed by topic coding, creating categories, abstracting. The study found that outdoor space and buildings, transportation, and housing are the main built environment characteristics that affect the elderly-friendly community.Firstly, green space, park, sidewalks and square are the topics most concerned by the elderly. The cleanliness and safety of its outdoor space is seen as a barrier to physical activity and daily walking. Secondly, the quality of housing affects the quality of life of the elderly, and the lack of sunlight in the rooms all year round has an impact on the health of the elderly. Thirdly, walkable environment and rich street facilities can support older people’s physical activity. In addition, a few themes are more oriented to social context, for example public participation, social inclusion, peer support. This research also demonstrates that photovoice show great advantage in the dissemination of vulnerable person relevant voice, and encouraged critical dialogue between participants, and city stakeholders.