Older Peoples Experience of Urban life and the

Older People’s Experience of Urban life and the role of the neighbourhood Chris Phillipson (MICRA/The University of Manchester)

TOPICS COVERED • WHY NEIGHBOURHOODS ARE IMPORTANT • THE MEANING OF NEIGHBOURHOODS • RESEARCH ON NEIGHBOURHOODS • INTERVENTIONS IN NEIGHBOURHOODS

RESEARCH PROJECTS ON URBAN NEIGHBOURHHOODS • THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LIFE OF OLDER PEOPLE (1998 -2001) • WOMEN IN TRANSITION: MIGRANT WOMEN IN AN INNER CITY COMMUNITY (2002 -03) • SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN URBAN NEIGHBOURHOODS (2000 -2003) • MANCHESTER AGEING SURVEY (2013 -2015) 3

POLICY AND RESEARCH INFLUENCES ON NEIGHBOURHOOD RESEARCH • Shift from care ‘in’ to care ‘by’ the community • Focus on ‘ageing in place’ (Golant, 2009) • Importance of ‘home space’/ home as a source of identity (Peace et al. , 2005; Rowles, 2003) • Lifetime neighbourhoods (DCLG, 2011)

Why is the neighbourhood important? § 80% of the time of people aged over 70 is spent at home; hence the importance of a high quality physical environment (Wahl et al. , 2012). § Contrast between ageing in place (>40 years) and highly mobile populations (<5 years). § Various factors increase vulnerability to changes in the environment, including reliance upon community sources of support (Wight et al. , 2009). § Move from ‘family groups’ to ‘personal communities’ (Phillipson et al. 2001)

The meaning of neighbourhood • Neighbourhoods – subjective as well as physical spaces • Relationships are maintained both within and without particular neighbourhoods (e. g. transnational networks) • Much research has focused on ageing in place but much less on places of ageing: - the former examines why people wish to remain in their own homes; the latter focuses on the contexts which influence everyday life in older age.

Natural neighbourhood networks • Neighbourhoods can be viewed as environments in which social relations and identity are constructed. • Gardner (2011) highlights the importance of what she terms ‘natural neighbourhood networks’ which complement family ties: neighbours, local businesses, strangers. • Neighbourhoods have ‘third spaces’ which may be especially important to older people: seats by bus stops; cafes; entrances to buildings (i. e. zones of transition)

Importance of place attachment • Physical dimension – living in same place for a long period of time • Social attachment – develop from everyday social exchanges and being known to others • Autobiographical attachment – importance of memories of neighbourhood which contribute to identity in later life.

Place attachment • Place attachment develops over time – stronger amongst older than younger age groups. • Some evidence that place attachment declines with increased neighbourhood deprivation (e. g. Bailey, 2011; Sampson, 1988).

Place attachment • However, research by Gilleard et al (2007) (drawing on a large sample of English adults 50 plus) found very similar levels of attachment (around two-thirds feeling very much part of their area) in both the least and most deprived areas. • Evidence that higher population turnover leads to lower attachment – by undermining social cohesion. People may find it difficult to trust, rely upon, have confidence in their neighbours in situations of residential instability (Bailey et al. 2011)

Table 1: Friendships in the neighbourhood: by selected age groups and sex, 2009 -2010 (UKHLS): Strongly agree etc. that friendships in neighbourhood are important to me. UK All % Men % Women % 50 -54 64 61 67 55 -59 66 63 69 60 -64 71 68 74 65 -69 75 71 79 70 -74 81 78 84 75 -79 81 79 83 80 and over 82 81 83 All aged 16 and over 60 57 64

Table 2: Belonging to the neighbourhood: selected age groups and sex, 2009 -10 (%) UKHLS (Strongly agree I feel I belong to this neighbourhood) UK All Men Women 50 -54 69 68 70 55 -59 73 73 74 60 -64 76 75 76 65 -69 80 79 81 70 -74 84 83 86 75 -79 85 84 85 80 and over 84 84 84 All aged 16 and over 66 64 68

Table 3: Attitudes towards the neighbourhood: proportion of older people agreeing or disagreeing with statements relating to neighbourhood (N=600) (%) Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree I believe my neighbours would help me in an emergency 78 10 12 I frequently stop and talk with people in my neighbourhood 71 11 18 I like to think of myself as similar to the people who live in this neighbourhood 69 12 19 I feel I can trust the people in my neighbourhood 58 21 21 This neighbourhood is a good place to grow old in 52 17 31 During the last two years my neighbourhood has got better as a place to live in 30 27 43 Statement Source: Keele Urban Deprivation Study

Social capital and neighbourhoods • The idea of social capital is important in relation to neighbourhoods: Social capital refers to the ability of individuals to secure benefits from social networks • Neighbourhood is an important place where social capital is acquired: for people who are less mobile local social contacts may be especially important • Older people important in contributing to social capital within their community (Phillipson et al. 2001)

Bonding and Bridging Social Capital • Bonding social capital is referred to as social networks between similar people. Bonding can be valuable for marginalized members of society to band together in groups and networks and support their collective needs. • Bridging in social capital is referred to as social networks between socially different groups. Bridging allows different groups to share and exchange information, ideas and innovation and builds consensus among the groups representing diverse interests.

Social capital and neighbourhoods • Having social capital in the form of local social contacts is an important factor in promoting well-being and increased social support. • Scharf & de Jong Gierveld(2008) found that older adults with wider community-focused networks (family, friends and neighbours) were less likely to be lonely than older people with more private restricted networks.

Social capital and older people • Much of the focus in neighbourhood work has been about promoting networks to support older people. • But key role of older people in contributing to ‘placemaking, participation in common activities and voluntary work’ (Buffel et al. , 2009) • High proportion of older people ‘volunteer’ but a significant proportion do not. • Paradox of neighbourhood life: older people most involved in daily round of activities; least involved in the big decisions (Buffel et al. , 2009)

Promoting lifetime neighbourhoods • Resident empowerment – resident-led activities to deliver life-time neighbourhoods • Access – ensuring maximum mobility around neighbourhoods • Services and amenities – achieving a mix of residential, retail and employment uses • Built and natural environments – that promote safe and accessible spaces

Promoting lifetime neighbourhoods • Social networks/ well-being – promoting informal and formal activities; ensuring safety and respect • Housing – a range of affordable housing, cohousing etc • Challenging ageism, sexism and racism within communities

Ageing in the community: Co-location of services • Naturally-Occurring Retirement Schemes (NORCS) Building or cluster of buildings occupied by relatively large concentrations of older adults who moved in at a younger age and then simply stayed or by older persons who moved in recently. Housing Trust or neighbourhood group partners with a lead organisation to provide array of services. Residents/ tenants may function in an advisory capacity.

Ageing in the community: Co-location of services • ‘Village’ model: Consumer-driven membership neighbourhood organisation combining social engagement, social support and service provision, to assist people to remain in own homes. In return for annual dues, members receive various services e. g. access to shopping trips, home repairs, cultural activities, legal services. Initiated and maintained by older people. http: //theathensvillage. org/

Developing the ‘village’ model • Promoting healthy ageing: developing health promotion; maintaining mobility through physical activity. • Promoting neighbourhood networks: developing informal networks to combat social exclusion and provide support to informal carers; co-operative enterprises. • Outreach to groups at risk of isolation: e. g. particular migrant groups, older people with particular physical or mental health disabilities. • Housing interventions: assistance with adaptations and insulation, review of housing options, help with jobs in the home, assistance with home safety. • Intensive community support those with multiple impairments (including integration of end-of-life care). • Environmental interventions: promotion of green spaces, agefriendly shops and transportation. 8

CHALLENGES TO DEVELOPING AGEFRIENDLY/AGEING IN COMMUNITY STRATEGY • Many communities lack structural capacity to support ageing populations – age-friendly initiatives not a panacea • ‘Ageing in place’ may be appropriate for some but not all phases of ageing • ‘Ageing in place’ may be unattractive where the places in which people are ageing are facing economic and social decline (Scharf et al. , 2002)

Some questions • What are the implications for research on neighbourhoods for Af. A? • What kind of neighbourhood-based interventions might be promoted? • What are the obstacles to neighbourhoodbased work? • What sort of groups of older people might be difficult to reach in this kind of work?

REFERENCES Buffel, T et al. (2009) The neighbourhood as a dynamic social space: recognizing actors in placemaking. Conference paper to European Sociological Association Communities & Local Government (2011) Lifetime neighbourhoods. Sinclair, D and Watson, J (2014) Making Communities Ready for Ageing ILC/UK Gardner, P. (2011) ‘Natural neighbourhood networks – important social networks in the lives of older people’ Journal of Aging Studies Vol 25 Bailey, N. et al (2011) ‘Place attachment in deprived neighbourhoods’. Housing Studies. Golant, S (2011) ‘The Changing residential environments of older people’. In Binstock, R and George, L (eds) Handbook of Aging and the Social Sciences Wiley. Phillipson, C (2011) Developing age-friendly communities: New approaches to growing old in urban communities. In Settersten, R and Angel, J (eds) Handbook of Sociology of Aging. New York: Springer Phillipson, C. et al (2001) The Family and Community Life of Older People Routldge