Healthy ageing, walking and the outdoor environment in the North
The purpose of the research project is to find out how people aged 70 and older living in the north experience their outdoor space for action and movement in their neighborhood. As well as what is perceived as hindering and enabling factors, especially in winter. The project is funded by the Nordic Council and the Kamprad Family Foundation
Through survey and focus group responses, we will gain valuable knowledge about the importance of neighborhoods for healthy aging in urban and rural areas. We hope that this knowledge will contribute to safe and accessible outdoor environments in the North.
Places directly outside the home, neighborhood and hometown, ie the walkable places are particularly in focus. The form of the built environment plays a key role here as an enabler for getting around on foot and the freedom and quality of life it can provide. And to achieve overall national and international goals in sustainability, climate and public health.
The project is funded by the Nordic Council and is carried out in collaboration between Luleå University of Technology in Sweden, Oulu University in Finland and the University of Iceland. This will create a larger analysis base covering northern Sweden, northern Finland and all of Iceland (northern Arctic regions). In Sweden, both urban and rural areas in the regions of Västerbotten and Norrbotten are covered.
The Swedish part of the project is also funded by the Kamprad Family Foundation. It analyzes barriers and enablers to walking among older people using a participatory perspective where the demands and needs of older people are in focus throughout the project and addressed during focus group interviews with policy makers, practitioners and academics. The project connects to the PhD project Design and Maintain Healthy Urban Design for Walking within PRECISE and is a collaboration between Physiotherapy, Architecture and the Swedish Transport Administration.
Luleå University of Technology is the organization responsible (research principal) for the Swedish part of the project. The project has been approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority, the registration number for the review at the Ethical Review Authority is Dnr 2024-00714-01.
You are also welcome to contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding the study.
Contact
Agneta Larsson
- Associate Professor
- 0920-493891
- agneta.larsson@ltu.se
- Agneta Larsson
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