Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research (CHARR), School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Wellington 6021, New Zealand.
School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago, Wellington 6021, New Zealand.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 11;18(2):552. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020552.
Urban parks are spaces that can enhance older adults' physical, social and psychological wellbeing. As the prevalence of older adults with disability increases, it is important that urban parks are accessible to this population so that they too might gain health benefits. There is limited literature investigating the experiences of urban parks by older adults with disability. This qualitative study, set in a region of New Zealand, explored the experiences, including accessibility, of urban parks by 17 older adults (55 years and older) with self-reported disabilities. Three focus groups ( = 4, 5 and 4 people) and four individual interviews were undertaken. Data were analyzed using the General Inductive Approach. Two primary themes of "Enticing" and "Park use considerations" are presented. Urban parks and green spaces are perceived to provide an environment for older adults with a disability to improve their physical, psychosocial and spiritual health, and social connectedness. Parks that are not age, ability or culture diverse are uninviting and exclusive. Meaningful collaboration between park designers, city councils and people with disability is required to maximize the public health benefits of parks and make parks inviting and accessible for users of all ages, cultures and abilities. Park co-design with people with disability may provide one means of improving accessibility and park usability and thus park participation by older adults with disability.
城市公园是可以提高老年人身心健康的空间。随着残疾老年人的患病率增加，重要的是让城市公园对这一人群开放，以便他们也能从中受益。关于残疾老年人对城市公园的体验，相关文献有限。本研究在新西兰的一个地区进行，探索了 17 名（55 岁及以上）自我报告有残疾的老年人对城市公园的体验，包括可达性。进行了三个焦点小组（= 4、5 和 4 人）和四个个人访谈。使用一般归纳法对数据进行了分析。呈现了两个主要主题：“诱人”和“公园使用考虑因素”。城市公园和绿地被认为为残疾老年人提供了一个改善他们的身体健康、心理社会和精神健康以及社会联系的环境。那些不具有年龄、能力或文化多样性的公园没有吸引力，是排他性的。公园设计师、市议会和残疾人之间需要进行有意义的合作，以最大限度地发挥公园的公共卫生效益，并使所有年龄段、文化和能力的使用者都能享受到公园的便利和可达性。与残疾人共同设计公园可能是提高可达性和公园可用性的一种手段，从而提高残疾老年人参与公园活动的机会。
