Physical and emotional support of the neighborhood for older adults: A comparison of the United States and Germany

What Makes a City a Good Place to Live and Grow Old?

“…By engaging residents in the process, the team can learn about the challenges residents face, which then provides context to their lives and neighborhood (Buffel & Phillipson, 2018;Firestone et al, 2018;Keyes & Benavides, 2019;Levasseur et al, 2017) and introduces cultural influences (Konig et al, 2019) on their QoL. The voices of all seniors, especially the overlooked and disenfranchised (e.g., socially isolated, ethnic and racial minorities, LGBTQ+, homeless, and physically or mentally challenged) need to be heard.…”

Spatio-Temporal Trend of Aging Regions and Their Neighborhood Environment: Findings from Daegu Metropolitan City, Korea

“…The ecological theory of aging is the most influential in the field of environmental gerontology, where the behaviors of people depend on and are connected to various physical and social environments due to the continuous interaction between human beings and the environment [2,22,23]. For the elderly in particular, their physical and social environments are crucial factors for a healthy life, and they tend to be more attached to their living environment than other age groups due to the decline of their physical, mental, and social functions [24,25]. Additionally, the elderly prefer aging in the environment they have lived in, and their spatial experience and attachment to the region are important in understanding the process of aging [26][27][28].…”

“…The physical and social activities of the elderly are emphasized for active and healthy aging, and it is associated with neighborhood environmental conditions [12,13,25,34]. An age-friendly city offers a supportive environment that enables residents to age actively within their neighborhoods as they interact with other people and use community resources by driving, shopping locally, using parks and libraries, or attending church [6].…”

“…Outdoor walking, in particular, facilitates healthy aging, because walking is the most common physical activity among the elderly [14,34]. Neighborhoods, including built and social environments, influence outdoor walking for the elderly [10], and the neighborhood's physical attributes can encourage a healthier lifestyle [25]. Furthermore, the built and social environments of neighborhoods influence the elderly's participation in their communities significantly [35].…”

“…Yun examined the perception of the environment's characteristics (e.g., safety, attractiveness, comfort, perceived crime) [12]. In addition, König et al found that overall, safety was one of the highest-rated aspects of a neighborhood in the United States and Germany, and this included it being pedestrian-friendly [25]. Meanwhile, Yoo and Kim found safety issues in mixed-traffic streets with on-street parking [13].…”