Older Adults’ Out-of-Home Activities in a Super-Aged High-Rise, High-Density Neighborhood: A Qualitative Study^†

Abstract

Out-of-home activities are critical for older adults’ health and quality of life. Using field observations and interviews, this study investigated what neighborhood environmental characteristics influence older adults’ out-of-home activities in a high-rise, high-density neighborhood in Singapore. Except for individual characteristics, this study revealed four environmental themes (i.e., physical environment, social environment, service environment/management, information and technological systems) and 18 subthemes affecting older adults’ out-of-home activities. It highlights the importance of neighborhood spaces for encouraging active and healthy aging. To further encourage out-of-home activities, neighborhood planning and design should protect the public domain and pay more attention to the pedestrian circulation system and design details.

Keywords:

• Aging in place
• healthy aging
• high-rise
• high-density
• neighborhood environment
• out-of-home activity
• public housing

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.