Fysieke, sociale en psychologische dimensies van de woonomgeving: ouderen aan het woord over hun verbondenheid met de buurt

Abstract

Ageing is often associated with an intensification of feelings about ‘place’, ‘neighbourhood’ and ‘community’. Because older people tend to be increasingly more oriented towards their locality, the neighbourhood is considered to play a vital role for older people’s wellbeing and quality of daily life. This article focuses on the ways in which older people perceive and give meaning to the physical, social and psychological dimensions of their neighbourhood. Using qualitative data collected in Oostkamp, a municipality where previous research showed that older people tend to have strong feelings of place attachment, this study explores the processes which underlie older people’s sense of local connectedness. Three key findings are discussed: first, older people’s neighbourhood use and perceptions of the physical environment; second, neighbour relationships and sense of community; and third, place attachment and identity.