Places of Active Aging

Physical activity related to daily activities – other than exercise – accounts for most of the total physical activity of older adults. Attractive destinations, such as parks or shops, may draw one to leave home, but little is known about locations of activity destinations relative to older adults’ homes.

In this project, we study where older adults are active, whether these places share common attributes, and how these places affect active aging and its change over time. If possible, a mapping strategy will be developed for identifying environments supporting active aging in Jyväskylä, and it will be tested in different settings.

Integration of epidemiological and geographical data sources, multi-disciplinary methods and expert collaboration will ensure a comprehensive picture of person-environment interactions underlying active aging. This project will provide a scientific basis to develop cities and communities that go beyond age-friendly – that is, promoting active aging of their residents.

Funding
Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture (2019–2023)

Research group
Principal Investigator
Kirsi Keskinen, Dr., Postdoctoral researcher, Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, kirsi.e.keskinen@jyu.fi

Erja Portegijs, Associate Professor, Rosalind Franklin Fellow, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Milla Saajanaho, Dr., Research coordinator, University of Jyväskylä
Taina Rantanen, Professor, University of Jyväskylä
Essi-Mari Tuomola, MSc., Doctoral researcher, Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä. Research topic: The built and natural environment, activity locations and active aging: association before, during and after COVID-19 pandemic

Collaborators
Dr. Timo Hinrichs, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
Prof. Robert Weibel, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Unit at the Department of Geography, University of Zürich, Switzerland