Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequential lockdowns, the importance of urban neighborhoods as public spaces for people in general, and older adults in particular, has increased (see also Chapter Ten, this volume). This importance has increased because the lockdowns forced/encouraged people to spend the majority of their time at home, only leaving to get some fresh air or go shopping, both activities that often take place locally. In this chapter, we explore various areas in urban neighborhoods in which older adults engage most, and how experiences of service use and green and blue space have been impacted.

For older adults, the local neighborhood typically is an important place. It is where they undertake the majority of their daily activities (such as socializing, shopping, and exercising) and thus experience a strong sense of belonging and attachment (Smith, 2009; Buffel et al, 2014). This sense of belonging is a fundamental element of ‘ageing in place’ which, in turn, is important to well-being in later life (Wiles et al, 2012): when older adults live in a neighborhood, they typically have a relatively strong local social network, and know how, when, and with whom to engage with its spaces (Boyle et al, 2015).

Another key element for older adults in urban neighborhoods is the quantity and quality of amenities available, such as supermarkets, green space, and health care facilities. Aside from the functional needs of the amenities, spaces such as gardens, parks, ponds, and waterfronts are considered to have restorative and even ‘therapeutic’ qualities (Korpela et al, 2010; Bell et al, 2017): people go there to relax, to spend time on their own (or with other people) away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. More specifically, green and blue space have been found to positively affect perceived mental, physical, and social health in later life, but complicating these positive effects are negative experiences around safety and accessibility (Finlay et al, 2015). To ensure positive ageing in place, these amenities need to be freely accessible and safe for older adults (Van Hoven and Meijering, 2019). However, even if services are nearby, they may not always be accessible for those who use mobility aids or may not be deemed safe (Van Hoven and Meijering, 2019).

Methodology and contexts

This study is part of Meaningful Mobility (2019–24) project which explores mobility patterns and experiences in later life.