Older people's experiences of everyday travel in the urban environment: a thematic synthesis of qualitative studies in the United Kingdom

TY - JOUR

T1 - Older people's experiences of everyday travel in the urban environment

T2 - a thematic synthesis of qualitative studies in the United Kingdom

AU - Graham, Hilary Mavis

AU - De Bell, Sian

AU - Flemming, Katherine Ann

AU - Sowden, Amanda Jayne

AU - White, Piran Crawfurd Limond

AU - Wright, Kath

N1 - © Cambridge University Press 2018.

PY - 2020/4

Y1 - 2020/4

N2 - Compared to younger age groups, older people spend more time in their locality and rely more heavily on its pedestrian and public transport infrastructure. Qualitative studies provide unique insight into people's experiences. We conducted a qualitative evidence synthesis of United Kingdom-based studies of older people's experiences of travelling in the urban environment. We searched health, social science, age-related and transport-related databases from 1998 to 2017. Fourteen papers (from 12 studies) were included in a thematic synthesis, a three-staged process that moves iteratively between codes, descriptive themes and cross-cutting analytical themes. Emerging themes were discussed with policy advisers. Four overarching themes were identified. The first and second theme pointed to the importance of 'getting out' and of being independent travellers. The third and fourth themes highlighted how local environments and travel systems enabled (or prevented) older people from realising these valued dimensions of travel. The loss of local amenities and micro-environmental features, such as pavement quality, personal safety and aesthetic appearance, were recurrent concerns. Free modes of travel like walking and bus travel were highly valued, including the social engagement they facilitated. Our review suggests that, while its extrinsic value (reaching destinations) matters, the intrinsic value of travel matters too. The process of travel is experienced and enjoyed for its own sake, with older people describing its contribution to their wellbeing.

AB - Compared to younger age groups, older people spend more time in their locality and rely more heavily on its pedestrian and public transport infrastructure. Qualitative studies provide unique insight into people's experiences. We conducted a qualitative evidence synthesis of United Kingdom-based studies of older people's experiences of travelling in the urban environment. We searched health, social science, age-related and transport-related databases from 1998 to 2017. Fourteen papers (from 12 studies) were included in a thematic synthesis, a three-staged process that moves iteratively between codes, descriptive themes and cross-cutting analytical themes. Emerging themes were discussed with policy advisers. Four overarching themes were identified. The first and second theme pointed to the importance of 'getting out' and of being independent travellers. The third and fourth themes highlighted how local environments and travel systems enabled (or prevented) older people from realising these valued dimensions of travel. The loss of local amenities and micro-environmental features, such as pavement quality, personal safety and aesthetic appearance, were recurrent concerns. Free modes of travel like walking and bus travel were highly valued, including the social engagement they facilitated. Our review suggests that, while its extrinsic value (reaching destinations) matters, the intrinsic value of travel matters too. The process of travel is experienced and enjoyed for its own sake, with older people describing its contribution to their wellbeing.

KW - bus travel

KW - healthy ageing

KW - mobility

KW - place

KW - social inequalities

KW - wellbeing

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85055705385&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1017/S0144686X18001381

DO - 10.1017/S0144686X18001381

M3 - Article

SN - 0144-686X

VL - 40

SP - 842

EP - 868

JO - Ageing & Society

JF - Ageing & Society

IS - 4

ER -