Aging suburbs - Matinkylä experienced by the residents
Keywords:
older adults, housing environment, wellbeing, participationAbstract
In this article, the development of suburban neighborhoods is discussed from the point of view of older adults. Densification and sustainable development actions of these existing living environments need to take into account residents' self-perceived wellbeing as an important factor of housing satisfaction and place attachment. The objective of this study was to get further knowledge on how older adults themselves experience their living environment and which features they appreciate in it. Enhancing physical and social wellbeing is important for their coping in daily life. This case study involved older residents in Espoo, Matinkylä, who shared their experiences of their own neighborhood. They were relating their self-perceived wellbeing and housing satisfaction to access to services, a sense of community, and a natural environment. These factors enhancing residents' physical and social wellbeing should be preserved when developing existing neighborhoods, in dialog with residents. Older adults living in suburban neighborhoods have experienced-based knowledge and the neighborhood environment has unused potential that can be utilized for suburban development.
