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Designing Age-Friendly Communities: Exploring Qualitative Perspectives on Urban Green Spaces and Ageing in Two Indian Megacities

Author

Listed:
  • Deepti Adlakha

    (School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5AG, UK)

  • Mina Chandra

    (Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi 110001, India)

  • Murali Krishna

    (Foundation for Research and Advocacy in Mental Health, Mysore, Karnataka 570028, India
    Viveka Foundation, Vajamangala, Mysore, Karnataka 570028, India)

  • Lee Smith

    (The Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK)

  • Mark A. Tully

    (Institute of Mental Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ulster University, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UK)

Abstract

The World Health Organization and the United Nations have increasingly acknowledged the importance of urban green space (UGS) for healthy ageing. However, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India with exponential ageing populations have inadequate UGS. This qualitative study examined the relationships between UGS and healthy ageing in two megacities in India. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling in New Delhi and Chennai and semi-structured interviews were conducted with consenting participants (N = 60, female = 51%; age > 60 years; fluent in English, Hindi, or Tamil). Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated, and analysed using inductive and thematic analysis. Benefits of UGS included community building and social capital, improved health and social resilience, physical activity promotion, reduced exposure to noise, air pollution, and heat. Poorly maintained UGS and lack of safe, age-friendly pedestrian infrastructure were identified as barriers to health promotion in later life. Neighbourhood disorder and crime constrained older adults’ use of UGS in low-income neighbourhoods. This study underscores the role of UGS in the design of age-friendly communities in India. The findings highlight the benefits of UGS for older adults, particularly those living in socially disadvantaged or underserved communities, which often have least access to high-quality parks and green areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Deepti Adlakha & Mina Chandra & Murali Krishna & Lee Smith & Mark A. Tully, 2021. "Designing Age-Friendly Communities: Exploring Qualitative Perspectives on Urban Green Spaces and Ageing in Two Indian Megacities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1491-:d:493495
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sarah Elshahat & Michael O’Rorke & Deepti Adlakha, 2020. "Built environment correlates of physical activity in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Astrid Kemperman & Pauline van den Berg & Minou Weijs-Perrée & Kevin Uijtdewillegen, 2019. "Loneliness of Older Adults: Social Network and the Living Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Hyun Jin Lee & Dong Kun Lee, 2019. "Do Sociodemographic Factors and Urban Green Space Affect Mental Health Outcomes Among the Urban Elderly Population?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-13, March.
    4. Zheng Tan & Kevin Ka-Lun Lau & Adam Charles Roberts & Stessa Tzu-Yuan Chao & Edward Ng, 2019. "Designing Urban Green Spaces for Older Adults in Asian Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-23, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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