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Long term effects of an intervention in the outdoor environment-a comparison of older people's perception in two residential areas, in one of which accessibility improvements were introduced

Hallgrimsdottir, Berglind LU ; Svensson, Helena LU and Ståhl, Agneta LU (2015) In Journal of Transport Geography 42. p.90-97
Abstract
Walking and participating in activities outdoors in old age can be restricted both by the physical capacity of the individual and by the maintenance and/or the design of the outdoor environment. The purpose of this paper is to compare frequency of walking and frequency of activity outside the home, reported environmental barriers and valuation of the outdoor environment between two areas, in one of which there was an intervention in the outdoor environment 5-8 years prior to this study. The paper is based on a questionnaire sent out in 2011, to all residents 65 years and older in two different areas, the Study Area, an area with an intervention, and the Reference Area. The results show that reports on functional limitations, use of... (More)
Walking and participating in activities outdoors in old age can be restricted both by the physical capacity of the individual and by the maintenance and/or the design of the outdoor environment. The purpose of this paper is to compare frequency of walking and frequency of activity outside the home, reported environmental barriers and valuation of the outdoor environment between two areas, in one of which there was an intervention in the outdoor environment 5-8 years prior to this study. The paper is based on a questionnaire sent out in 2011, to all residents 65 years and older in two different areas, the Study Area, an area with an intervention, and the Reference Area. The results show that reports on functional limitations, use of mobility devices and walking difficulties were similar in both areas. Despite that, respondents in the Study Area had a significantly higher frequency of walking and they also participated to a higher degree in activities than respondents in the Reference Area, even though they reported more environmental barriers. The valuation of the outdoor environment was, however, similar in both areas. The results indicate that older people benefit from interventions in the outdoor environment. However, the results also emphasize the importance of good maintenance of the environment. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Environmental barriers, Accessibility, Usability, Walking frequency, Neighbourhood perception
in
Journal of Transport Geography
volume
42
pages
90 - 97
publisher
Pergamon Press Ltd.
external identifiers
  • wos:000350186500009
  • scopus:84919905697
ISSN
0966-6923
DOI
10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2014.11.006
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5a83ccdd-b200-4e58-aea3-eb3e4352f602 (old id 5304046)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:00:56
date last changed
2022-04-19 21:48:47
@article{5a83ccdd-b200-4e58-aea3-eb3e4352f602,
  abstract     = {{Walking and participating in activities outdoors in old age can be restricted both by the physical capacity of the individual and by the maintenance and/or the design of the outdoor environment. The purpose of this paper is to compare frequency of walking and frequency of activity outside the home, reported environmental barriers and valuation of the outdoor environment between two areas, in one of which there was an intervention in the outdoor environment 5-8 years prior to this study. The paper is based on a questionnaire sent out in 2011, to all residents 65 years and older in two different areas, the Study Area, an area with an intervention, and the Reference Area. The results show that reports on functional limitations, use of mobility devices and walking difficulties were similar in both areas. Despite that, respondents in the Study Area had a significantly higher frequency of walking and they also participated to a higher degree in activities than respondents in the Reference Area, even though they reported more environmental barriers. The valuation of the outdoor environment was, however, similar in both areas. The results indicate that older people benefit from interventions in the outdoor environment. However, the results also emphasize the importance of good maintenance of the environment. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Hallgrimsdottir, Berglind and Svensson, Helena and Ståhl, Agneta}},
  issn         = {{0966-6923}},
  keywords     = {{Environmental barriers; Accessibility; Usability; Walking frequency; Neighbourhood perception}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{90--97}},
  publisher    = {{Pergamon Press Ltd.}},
  series       = {{Journal of Transport Geography}},
  title        = {{Long term effects of an intervention in the outdoor environment-a comparison of older people's perception in two residential areas, in one of which accessibility improvements were introduced}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2014.11.006}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2014.11.006}},
  volume       = {{42}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}