Age-friendly environment : an evaluation of the living environment and supporting networks for the elderly in Kennedy Town

Abstract

Ageing population is a hot topic currently around the world. World Health Organization (WHO) started to promote the importance of ageing in world cities through its Elder-Friendly Cities Initiatives in 2007 (WHO, 2007). It has formulated a guideline with some features contributing to “age-friendliness” of a city: outdoor space and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, community and health services.

Hong Kong has an ageing population, and age-friendly environment is important for the elderly to stay with. Kennedy Town is the place where the author lives in since she was born. Unlike those newly developed new towns in Hong Kong, most people have lived in this old district for many years. With redevelopment of some old buildings in this district, new infrastructure and facilities are built for residents which enhance the living environment here. Urban redevelopment in Kennedy Town may impose a threat to those living in very old buildings, since the compensation for demolishing their flats may not enough for them to buy a firsthand flat in the same district. However, there are still many choices of affordable second-flats available in the market. Networks are built among the elderly here and they usually prefer to stay in this old district and not moving to another place. There should be some attractiveness for them to stay here. Therefore, it is worth to evaluate how this old district with new elements can build an age-friendly environment.

Our study would mainly focus on the above eight determinants to evaluate the age-friendliness of Kennedy Town. The analysis would be based on the findings from survey questionnaires and direct observations in the community. The study reveals that Kennedy Town is an age-friendly district and many elderly people have stayed here for more than ten years. Moreover, some improvements are needed as there are more elderly people staying here, and the facilities may not be applicable and enough for the ageing population.