IN-PERSON: Livable Cities – New York

Abstract

Walking is a sustainable and healthy transport mode, and reports multiple benefits to older persons. It can prevent or delay physical or cognitive decline, and help elderly people to remain active and connected with their communities. However older persons’ walking is often hindered by the built environment and an urban design which does not consider the requirements and needs of older people. This research analyses the challenges and barriers elderly people face when walking in their neighborhoods. It reports the findings of forty-one walking interviews with older persons in central neighbourhoods in Santiago, Chile, a Latin American metropolis of seven million people. The walking interviews were recorded in audio and GPS, transcribed, and coded with the qualitative data analysis (QDA) computer software Atlas.ti (version 8.0). Through this method, elements of the built environment which facilitate, and contrarily, hinder older persons’ walking were identified. Results show that places where older people walk are often inadequate (e.g., narrow, uneven and damaged sidewalks) and provoke accidents (e.g., falls), generating fear and anxiety. Other reported barriers were difficult and long pedestrian crossings, lack of ramps and crowded public spaces, particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. On the contrary, adequate ramps, trees and greenery, local shops, certain type of benches and public toilets were indicated as elements which ease their walking, promoting its practice and helping older people to “age in place” in age-friendly neighborhoods. This research has been funded by ANID Fondecyt Regular Nº1200527.