A SPACE OF OUR OWN: RECLAIMING PUBLIC OPEN SPACES FOR SELF-EXPRESSION AND COMMUNITY
2024
Reclaiming Public Open Spaces for Older Adults
Sample size: 200
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Maulod Ad, Ravindran Malcolm, Wong Yunjie
Primary Institution: Duke-NUS Medical School
Hypothesis
How do public open spaces impact the social engagement and autonomy of older persons in Singapore?
Conclusion
Public open spaces are essential for older persons' freedom and autonomy, but they often feel a lack of control over these spaces.
Supporting Evidence
- Public open spaces help older persons build social capital and community.
- Residents in Singapore have little influence over the design of public spaces.
- Government initiatives have increased the provision of active ageing centres.
- Older persons perceive designated senior spaces as catering to the sick and vulnerable.
- Participants expressed a lack of control over community spaces and activities.
Takeaway
Older people need places to hang out and express themselves, but they often feel like they can't use the spaces designed for them.
Methodology
Ethnographic interviews across multiple qualitative research studies.
Limitations
Participants expressed hesitance in utilizing designated senior spaces due to perceptions of them catering to the sick and vulnerable.
Participant Demographics
Older persons in Singapore.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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