Enhancing Walkability for Older Adults: The Role of Government Policies and Urban Design
This research examines the impact of government policy initiatives, community engagement programs, and age-friendly urban design policies on the built environment, with a specific focus on the walkability of older adults. The walkability of older adults in the built environment is essential because...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Infrastructures |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/10/4/77 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850180539308310528 |
|---|---|
| author | Akshatha Rao Rama Devi Nandineni Roshan S. Shetty Kailas Mallaiah Giridhar B. Kamath |
| author_facet | Akshatha Rao Rama Devi Nandineni Roshan S. Shetty Kailas Mallaiah Giridhar B. Kamath |
| author_sort | Akshatha Rao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This research examines the impact of government policy initiatives, community engagement programs, and age-friendly urban design policies on the built environment, with a specific focus on the walkability of older adults. The walkability of older adults in the built environment is essential because it promotes physical activity, social connectedness, and independence, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life and supporting healthy aging. This study employs a quantitative approach and cross-sectional design with convenience sampling in Udupi district, one of the urbanizing districts in India. The sample includes 333 older adults from diverse sociodemographic backgrounds who actively use the built environment. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. The findings indicate that community engagement programs are the strongest enabler of safety and security perceptions related to walkability. Safety and security positively correlate with increased physical activity level, increased socialization level, and improved quality of life in older adults. Security also mediates the relationship between community engagement programs and all three outcomes associated with walkability. It highlights priority urban design features such as strategic lighting, sheltered walkways, traffic calming measures, barrier-free access, rest areas, and inclusive design elements as critical components of adaptive urban spaces that promote safety, accessibility, and social inclusion for older adults. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c88609ce2a234fbb994c78e2506bd16a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2412-3811 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Infrastructures |
| spelling | doaj-art-c88609ce2a234fbb994c78e2506bd16a2025-08-20T02:18:09ZengMDPI AGInfrastructures2412-38112025-03-011047710.3390/infrastructures10040077Enhancing Walkability for Older Adults: The Role of Government Policies and Urban DesignAkshatha Rao0Rama Devi Nandineni1Roshan S. Shetty2Kailas Mallaiah3Giridhar B. Kamath4Manipal School of Architecture & Planning, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, KA, IndiaManipal School of Architecture & Planning, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, KA, IndiaManipal School of Architecture & Planning, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, KA, IndiaManipal School of Architecture & Planning, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, KA, IndiaDepartment of Humanities and Management, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, KA, IndiaThis research examines the impact of government policy initiatives, community engagement programs, and age-friendly urban design policies on the built environment, with a specific focus on the walkability of older adults. The walkability of older adults in the built environment is essential because it promotes physical activity, social connectedness, and independence, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life and supporting healthy aging. This study employs a quantitative approach and cross-sectional design with convenience sampling in Udupi district, one of the urbanizing districts in India. The sample includes 333 older adults from diverse sociodemographic backgrounds who actively use the built environment. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses. The findings indicate that community engagement programs are the strongest enabler of safety and security perceptions related to walkability. Safety and security positively correlate with increased physical activity level, increased socialization level, and improved quality of life in older adults. Security also mediates the relationship between community engagement programs and all three outcomes associated with walkability. It highlights priority urban design features such as strategic lighting, sheltered walkways, traffic calming measures, barrier-free access, rest areas, and inclusive design elements as critical components of adaptive urban spaces that promote safety, accessibility, and social inclusion for older adults.https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/10/4/77urban designcommunity engagementpolicy initiativesquality of lifesocializationolder adults |
| spellingShingle | Akshatha Rao Rama Devi Nandineni Roshan S. Shetty Kailas Mallaiah Giridhar B. Kamath Enhancing Walkability for Older Adults: The Role of Government Policies and Urban Design Infrastructures urban design community engagement policy initiatives quality of life socialization older adults |
| title | Enhancing Walkability for Older Adults: The Role of Government Policies and Urban Design |
| title_full | Enhancing Walkability for Older Adults: The Role of Government Policies and Urban Design |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Walkability for Older Adults: The Role of Government Policies and Urban Design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Walkability for Older Adults: The Role of Government Policies and Urban Design |
| title_short | Enhancing Walkability for Older Adults: The Role of Government Policies and Urban Design |
| title_sort | enhancing walkability for older adults the role of government policies and urban design |
| topic | urban design community engagement policy initiatives quality of life socialization older adults |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2412-3811/10/4/77 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT akshatharao enhancingwalkabilityforolderadultstheroleofgovernmentpoliciesandurbandesign AT ramadevinandineni enhancingwalkabilityforolderadultstheroleofgovernmentpoliciesandurbandesign AT roshansshetty enhancingwalkabilityforolderadultstheroleofgovernmentpoliciesandurbandesign AT kailasmallaiah enhancingwalkabilityforolderadultstheroleofgovernmentpoliciesandurbandesign AT giridharbkamath enhancingwalkabilityforolderadultstheroleofgovernmentpoliciesandurbandesign |