Healthy ageing and the 15-minute walking environment in the Swedish Arctic communities

Introduction

In recent years, the 15-min city concept has gained popularity as a solution for urban planning, emphasizing proximity to daily amenities accessible by walking or cycling. While commonly studied and implemented in densely populated cities, its application in other contexts remains limited. Simultaneously, Europe's older population continues to grow, highlighting the need to address their unique needs. This study examines the 15-min city from the perspective of older adults in the Swedish Arctic.

Methods

A mailed questionnaire was chosen to investigate the most significant daily amenities within a 15-min walk for the sociodemographic group. Responses were categorized into the six original categories of the 15-min city concept: Living, Working, Supplying, Caring, Learning, and Enjoying.

Results

Results included high responses for Supplying and Caring, with low mentions of Working. Additionally, two new categories emerged: Social, highlighting the importance of relationships with family, friends and neighbours, and Nothing, reflecting a lack of nearby services despite many respondents still engaging in daily neighbourhood visits.

Conclusions

This study offers a fresh perspective on the 15-min city, emphasizing the importance of integrating residents' experiences and preferences into urban planning, especially in smaller communities, to support active ageing and overall well-being. The findings offer valuable insights into key destinations for the older population, which can help enhance accessibility to essential facilities and promote proximity-based planning.