Measuring Age-Friendliness Based on the Walkability Indices of Older People to Urban Facilities

Abstract

This study aims to measure age-friendliness based on the walkability indices of the older people to urban facilities in the sample area of Istanbul, Turkey and the various districts within. It focuses on three key urban facilities in age-friendly cities: open public spaces, health services and basic needs; Quantitative datasets are also utilised in order to measure the age-friendliness of the urban environment. There are two main quantitative dimensions of the study: to generate accessible areas to facilities and to identify age-friendly values within the identified accessibility areas. To measure age-friendliness, new index sets were created using the Age-Friendly Approach Index and the Weighted Age-Friendly Approach Index. The results underline that the most age-friendly areas of open spaces are in the districts: Fatih, Beyoglu and uskudar; the most age-friendly areas of health services are in Kadikoy, Sisli, Beyoglu, Fatih, Bayrampasa, Gungoren and Bahcelievler; the most age-friendly areas of basic needs are in Fatih, Kadikoy, Sisli and Gaziosmanpasa. Overall, Fatih, Kadikoy, Beyoglu and Sisli districts were found to have the widest age-friendly accessible areas, whilst districts moving towards the periphery of the city decrease in terms of age-friendliness. The least accessible areas are found in Beykoz, cekmekoy, Buyukcekmece and Silivri. The results allow us to discuss, compare and better understand age-friendliness and local government policies.