Neighbourhoods as socio-spatial infrastructures for ageing in place : case studies in Göteborg, Sweden
Schaff, Gwendoline LU
and Mattsson, Pimkamol
LU
(2026)
ENHR 2026 Conference: Homeownership, Prosperity, and Inequality in the 21st Century
p.80-81
- Abstract
- In a context of population ageing, housing crises and socio-spatial inequalities, ageing in place depends not only on dwellings but also on neighbourhood conditions. This article examines how older adults’ social possibilities are shaped in everyday life in Angered and Högsbo, two contrasting neighbourhoods in Göteborg, Sweden. Drawing on 12 walking interviews with older adults and 72 neighbourhood observations across 9 locations, the study approaches neighbourhoods as socio-spatial infrastructures. The findings show that social possibilities of participants are shaped through everyday mobility, plural forms of social connection, shared attachment to nature, and neighbourhood changes over time. While both neighbourhoods offered resources... (More)
- In a context of population ageing, housing crises and socio-spatial inequalities, ageing in place depends not only on dwellings but also on neighbourhood conditions. This article examines how older adults’ social possibilities are shaped in everyday life in Angered and Högsbo, two contrasting neighbourhoods in Göteborg, Sweden. Drawing on 12 walking interviews with older adults and 72 neighbourhood observations across 9 locations, the study approaches neighbourhoods as socio-spatial infrastructures. The findings show that social possibilities of participants are shaped through everyday mobility, plural forms of social connection, shared attachment to nature, and neighbourhood changes over time. While both neighbourhoods offered resources such as public transport, walkable routes, nearby shops, places to meet and green areas, these were experienced differently according to perceived safety, economic resources, accessibility, individual characteristics and capacities, familiarity and local histories. The article contributes to context-sensitive understandings of age-friendly environments, beyond one-size-fits-all approaches based on proximity alone. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/2e10f44f-7820-4d0a-aaea-952feb07aace
- author
- Schaff, Gwendoline
LU
and Mattsson, Pimkamol
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-06
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Ageing in place, Age-friendly neighbourhood, Socio-spatial infrastructure, Older adults, Sweden
- pages
- 80 - 81
- conference name
- ENHR 2026 Conference: Homeownership, Prosperity, and Inequality in the 21st Century
- conference location
- Oslo, Norway
- conference dates
- 2026-07-01 - 2026-07-03
- project
- Pathways towards Age-friendly Neighbourhoods: Transnational research, knowledge transfer, collaborative approaches and capacity building for the transition towards the 15-minute city
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 2e10f44f-7820-4d0a-aaea-952feb07aace
- date added to LUP
- 2026-07-28 09:43:43
- date last changed
- 2026-08-31 09:46:59
@misc{2e10f44f-7820-4d0a-aaea-952feb07aace,
abstract = {{In a context of population ageing, housing crises and socio-spatial inequalities, ageing in place depends not only on dwellings but also on neighbourhood conditions. This article examines how older adults’ social possibilities are shaped in everyday life in Angered and Högsbo, two contrasting neighbourhoods in Göteborg, Sweden. Drawing on 12 walking interviews with older adults and 72 neighbourhood observations across 9 locations, the study approaches neighbourhoods as socio-spatial infrastructures. The findings show that social possibilities of participants are shaped through everyday mobility, plural forms of social connection, shared attachment to nature, and neighbourhood changes over time. While both neighbourhoods offered resources such as public transport, walkable routes, nearby shops, places to meet and green areas, these were experienced differently according to perceived safety, economic resources, accessibility, individual characteristics and capacities, familiarity and local histories. The article contributes to context-sensitive understandings of age-friendly environments, beyond one-size-fits-all approaches based on proximity alone.}},
author = {{Schaff, Gwendoline and Mattsson, Pimkamol}},
keywords = {{Ageing in place; Age-friendly neighbourhood; Socio-spatial infrastructure; Older adults; Sweden}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{80--81}},
title = {{Neighbourhoods as socio-spatial infrastructures for ageing in place : case studies in Göteborg, Sweden}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/259514130/Schaff_-G.-_-Mattsson_-P._-2026_Neighborhoods-as-socio-spatial-infrastructures.pdf}},
year = {{2026}},
}