Identifying and structuring service needs for community-based visual arts and leisure among older adults: an exploratory qualitative study

Purpose This study aims to explore the service needs older adults identify when participating in community-based visual arts and leisure activities and examines how these needs are structured within their participation experiences. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory qualitative design was adopted. Twelve older adults (seven men and five women) recruited from a university for older adults participated in face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The interview data were analysed thematically to identify recurring service needs and their higher-order structure. Findings The analysis identified 16 core service needs organised into five dimensions: accessible participation conditions, adaptive activity design, responsive instructional support, supportive social climate and creative growth and recognition. The findings indicate that participation depends not only on physical access to activities but also on whether activities are manageable, support is available when difficulties arise, social interaction is respectful and encouraging and participants have opportunities to continue learning and develop creatively. Originality/value This study develops a five-dimensional structure of service needs for community visual arts based on older adults’ actual participation experiences and shows how different service conditions are interconnected throughout the participation process. The findings provide a more concrete framework for understanding older adults’ practical needs and offer a useful basis for the design and improvement of community arts programmes.