An Age-Friendly Living Environment as Seen by Chinese Older Adults: A “Photovoice” Study

Aileen W.K. Chan, Helen Y.L. Chan, Ivy K.Y. Chan, Bonnie Y.L. Cheung and Diana T.F. Lee
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Aileen W.K. Chan: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
Helen Y.L. Chan: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong, China
Ivy K.Y. Chan: Hong Kong Christian Service, Hong Kong, China
Bonnie Y.L. Cheung: Hong Kong Christian Service, Hong Kong, China
Diana T.F. Lee: The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-9

Abstract: “Ageing in place” is a policy initiative strongly advocated by the World Health Organization to face the challenge of an ageing population. This pilot study used a “photovoice” approach, aiming to explore aspects of the housing environment considered by older people as important in facilitating ageing in place. It enabled participants to express their ideas through photographs. Each participant was asked to take photos that illustrated age-friendly features they considered crucial for supporting their lives in the community. A total of 44 older people participated in the pilot study, and 300 photos were collected. Participants were invited to describe the reasons for taking these photos by filling in a journal sheet. A semi-structured interview was then conducted with individual participants, who were asked to elaborate on the meaning of their photos. The analysis revealed three themes: (1) age-friendly housing design; (2) supportive neighborhood; and (3) connection to family and the community. These three themes are pillars of an age-friendly city, which are important to seniors to facilitate ageing in place.

Keywords: age-friendly cities; ageing in place; photovoice; senior housing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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