Mapping with older adults: how do older adults' ratings of streets compare to researcher led audits
Abstract
Street and neighbourhoods are important for healthy ageing. Older people tend to spend a greater proportion of their time in their local neighbourhoods (Finlay et al., 2025; Nathan et al., 2018) and therefore their daily activities can be heavily influenced by the immediate environment. There is clear evidence that environments can be both health promoting and harmful to health. Walking outdoors has considerable health benefits, especially for older people as walking can constitute a considerable proportion of their physical activity. However, many older people avoid walking because of poor quality footpaths and concerns about falling over
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Mapping with older adults: how do older adults’ ratings of streets compare to researcher led audits Dr Angela Curl [email protected]
2 Outdoor mobility and wellbeing •Mobility →wellbeing (Schwanen & Ziegler, 2011;Gattrell, 2013) •Facilitator •Physical/mental health •Motility –potential to move •Walking an important mode of transport and source of physical activity for older adults •Walking ~ falls risk, cardio-vascular health, obesity, diabetes, mood, social connection….. •Risk of falls and fear of falling associated with reduced mobility and outdoor walking
3 Why outdoor falls? •Most falls among over 60s happen at home (71%) * ACC 10 year data 2013-2023 •6% occur on the road or street* ACC 10 year data 2013-2023 •BUT Falling and fear of falling restrict outdoor mobility and affect physical and mental wellbeing and accessibility •AND first, less injurious falls outside - then restrict outdoor mobility
5 Aims 1. Use a participatory approach to audit the built environment for pedestrian falls risks 2. Examine differences in researcher led assessments and assessments undertaken by community members 3. Examine whether specific demographic characteristics can account for differences in assessment of locations between participants
6 Fall location data •July 2016-June 2018 •7,416 falls on the road or street (6%) •3,519 among those aged over 60 (54%) •2,530 in urban areas
7 Virtual audits using Google Street View (researcher led) Most locations had a footpath on both sides (88%) and a crossing (77%). Many sites (43%) were near a shop or commercial property with a street facing entrance, and had a visible public seat (34%). Asphalt (40%) and concrete (45%) paths were most common, but paving bricks were common in ‘high street’ locations (65% of this location type). Almost all sites had streetlights, but 55% had lights only on one side. Pocock, T., Curl, A., Watkins, A., Todd, V., Dicker, B., & Keeling, S. (2024). Where Do Falls Happen? Using Fall-SAFE to Audit the Street Environment for Falls Risk among Older Adults–A Virtual Audit in Google Street View. New Zealand Population Review,50, 223-268. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
8 Community engagement process Recruited participants into workshops through local contacts and community organisations Workshop format: -Brief overview of research and context of outdoor falls -Complete consent forms and participant information questionnaire (demographics +) -Open discussion –recorded -Completed audits using iPads –drop and spin 37 participants across 12 workshops Three quarters female Average age 69 (32-92) 222 unique locations assessed 592 records –222 researcher site assessments and 370 community assessments
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