"this study suggests that older adults’ perceptions and preferences for urban green spaces are influenced by health status. Perceived safety in the urban green spaces showed a positive correlation with several self-reported health indicators . Such relationships are particularly significant in older adults living alone. These results are in line with several studies indicating that people in poor health or with low social support perceive the environment as more challenging. Older adults in poor health and with reduced mobility are less capable of coping with potential safety risks that may occur in public spaces, which contributes to a sense of insecurity. Older adults with various self-reported health statuses showed different preferences for the settings of UGSs, such as places to stay, views, and atmosphere. 

It was also noticeable that older adults tend to have more social interactions and stay in groups in the UGS in public housing estates than in street resting gardens. Such results suggest different design approaches for different types of UGSs. These results also reiterate the importance of diversity to accommodate the different needs of older adults."

 

Tan, Z., Lau, K. K. L., Roberts, A. C., Chao, S. T. Y., & Ng, E. (2019). Designing urban green spaces for older adults in Asian cities. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(22), 4423.

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