City Know-hows
This study investigates how severe winter conditions affect the outdoor activity of older adults in Erzurum, Türkiye— a city known for its long and harsh winters. Based on a quantitative survey with individuals aged 65 and above, a binomial logistic regression model was used to identify key predictors of outdoor activity avoidance.
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Target audience
My findings offer actionable insights for local authorities, urban planners, and non-government organizations.
The problem
Better understanding the effects of winter weather conditions on older adults’ outdoor engagement.
What we did and why
I contend that as global populations age, fostering age-friendly environments becomes increasingly critical. However, scholarly discourse must extend beyond traditional urban planning frameworks. In this study, I integrate multidisciplinary influences to provide a more holistic understanding of age-friendliness. By moving beyond mere urbanism, I seek to develop more robust strategies that support older adults’ well-being across diverse geographical and social contexts
Our study’s contribution
Through this research, I highlight how the synergy between urban, social, and seasonal parameters uniquely reshapes motivational drivers for older adults. I argue that outdoor engagement is not static; it fluctuates as climatic shifts interact with social networks and spatial accessibility. Consequently, I propose that age-friendly strategies must transcend fixed urbanist models by adopting a dynamic framework that accounts for these multidimensional, season-specific influences on elderly mobility and well-being
Impacts for city policy and practice
Urban policies must evolve beyond static designs to accommodate seasonal variability. To enhance age-friendliness, I recommend that city planners:
• Implement climate-sensitive infrastructure, such as heated walkways or sheltered social hubs.
• Adapt social programming to counteract seasonal isolation during winter.
• Integrate meteorological data into spatial planning to ensure year-round accessibility.
My findings emphasize that age-friendly cities require dynamic strategies that synchronize physical environments with seasonal realities
Further information
Full research article:
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