“Engaging in my rural community”: perceptions of people aged 85 years and over

Abstract

Purpose: Globally, numbers of people aged 85 years and over are increasing. Many older people, including those 85 years and over, are ageing in rural areas. For successful ageing in place, physical and social environments must be appropriate. The aim of this study is to understand the influence the physical and social environments have on enabling those aged 85 years and over to remain engaged in a rural community. Method: Utilizing an environmental gerontological approach, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 15 people who lived independently in a rural community. Following transcription data were analyzed and themes identified. Results: Two themes were identified; “Negotiating the physical environment: ‘Getting there and back’” and “Maintaining social networks: ‘Places to go, people to see’”. The findings provide insight into the importance of driving, parking close to amenities and negotiating the local environment to this group of older people and their ability to engage with their community. All participants agreed social engagement with friends, family or neighbors was important to them. Conclusion: These findings highlight the interconnection between physical and social environments. An enabling physical environment is essential to support social participation of people aged 85 years and over.

How Can the Lived Environment Support Healthy Ageing? A Spatial Indicators Framework for the Assessment of Age-Friendly Communities

“…For older people, social participation provides greater life satisfaction [ 87 ], is protective against cognitive decline [ 88 ], and contributes to resilience in older people [ 89 ], especially in rural communities [ 90 ]. Social participation is also being taken seriously internationally, and the United Kingdom appointed a new Minister for Loneliness and a national government action plan on loneliness [ 91 ].…”

Beginning on an age‐friendly journey: Barriers to implementing age‐friendly initiatives

“…Advancing age‐friendly communities has become a priority for governments internationally and in New Zealand in response to the ageing of populations, as well as the development and integration of ageing in place policies. Ageing in place is referred to as supporting older people to continue living in communities of choice, with or without assistance 4 . Consequently, communities need to be appropriate and supportive environments for older people to live in.…”

Access to Services in Rural Areas from the Point of View of Older Population—A Case Study in Finland

“…Moreover, in rural areas, due to the lack of public transport, the mobility of older people is often dependent on private cars. The oldest age groups, people 75 years old and older, may be forced to give up driving [18] (p. 67), which creates challenges especially for those living in remote areas with long distances to services. Family, friends and neighbours may provide social and practical support to older people in rural areas, and help when public transport is not available [19].…”