Exploring the Determinants of Age-Friendly Neighbourhoods Among Seniors Residing in a Low-Income Urban Community in Singapore: A Participatory Study

The growing interest regarding the role of the living environment in healthy ageing highlights the need to investigate place-related urban features contributing to health and socio-emotional wellbeing. This study aimed to use a participatory methodology to explore the determinants of an age-friendly neighbourhood built environment that promotes or limits healthy ageing in place among seniors residing in a low-income urban community in Singapore. The study utilised photovoice and semi-structured interviews with 25 community-dwelling seniors aged 65 and above, residing in government-built public housing. Analysis of the photographs and interviews was guided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Age-friendly Cities Framework to assess the age-friendliness of places. Our findings generally corresponded to the WHO framework, and our analysis identified a total of 8 facilitators and 4 barriers affecting the neighbourhood age-friendliness. A safe and pleasant outdoor environment that is connected to essential services, amenities and transport to key destinations encourages higher activity in seniors and enables them to fulfil their daily living needs. However, the lack of wheelchair accessible features in some areas deterred the mobility of seniors in the neighbourhood. Interestingly, there was also a high level of civic participation in the form of senior volunteerism observed among the participants as they took ownership to continuously improve the liveability of their neighbourhood. Additionally, there is a sufficient range of aged care services in their neighbourhood available to support seniors to age in their homes and community. The determinants that emerged from our findings are important for guiding future national policies and initiatives to improve the living environment that supports healthy ageing in place.