Designing age-friendly communities: Exploring qualitative perspectives on urban green spaces and ageing in two Indian megacities

Adlakha, Deepti, Chandra, Mina, Krishna, Murali, Smith, Lee and Tully, Mark A. (2021) Designing age-friendly communities: Exploring qualitative perspectives on urban green spaces and ageing in two Indian megacities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (4). p. 1491. ISSN 1660-4601

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Abstract

The World Health Organization and the United Nations have increasingly acknowledged the importance of urban green space (UGS) for healthy ageing. However, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India with exponential ageing populations have inadequate UGS. This qualitative study examined the relationships between UGS and healthy ageing in two megacities in India. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling in New Delhi and Chennai and semi-structured interviews were conducted with consenting participants (N = 60, female = 51%; age > 60 years; fluent in English, Hindi, or Tamil). Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated, and analysed using inductive and thematic analysis. Benefits of UGS included community building and social capital, improved health and social resilience, physical activity promotion, reduced exposure to noise, air pollution, and heat. Poorly maintained UGS and lack of safe, age-friendly pedestrian infrastructure were identified as barriers to health promotion in later life. Neighbourhood disorder and crime constrained older adults’ use of UGS in low-income neighbourhoods. This study underscores the role of UGS in the design of age-friendly communities in India. The findings highlight the benefits of UGS for older adults, particularly those living in socially disadvantaged or underserved communities, which often have least access to high-quality parks and green areas.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Keywords:	Megacities, India, Older adults, Healthy Aging
Faculty:	Faculty of Science & Engineering
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic User
Depositing User:	Symplectic User
Date Deposited:	29 Jan 2021 12:20
Last Modified:	17 Nov 2021 11:48
URI:	https://arro.anglia.ac.uk/id/eprint/706234

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