Older People in a Long-term Regeneration Neighbourhood

Older People in a Long-term Regeneration Neighbourhood: An Exploratory Panel Study of Ageing in Place in Hoogvliet, Rotterdam

Kleinhans, R.J. (TU Delft OLD Urban Renewal and Housing)
Veldboer, Lex (Hogeschool van Amsterdam)
van Ham, M. (TU Delft OLD Urban Renewal and Housing; University of St Andrews)
Jansen, S.J.T. (TU Delft OLD Support RES)

2018

Ageing of the population in European cities creates fundamental challenges with regard to employment, pensions, health care and other age-related services. Many older people want to live independent lives as long as possible. This aspiration is currently strongly supported by many local governments. A precondition for 'ageing in place' is that older people perceive their neighbourhoods as familiar and safe places. In the Netherlands, many neighbourhoods with an ageing population have been subject to urban restructuring policies. An important question is to what extent such policies affect the housing situation, socioeconomic position and social support networks of older people, as these factors strongly assist their ability to 'age in place'. The paper answers this question through an exploratory analysis of a small but unique panel data set from Hoogvliet, a large urban restructuring area in the city of Rotterdam. The partly counter-intuitive results show that restructuring has enabled 'ageing in place'. Compared to stayers, movers within Hoogvliet often report improved housing quality and positive neighbourhood change. The exploratory analyses did not provide evidence of decreased social support or increased loneliness through restructuring-induced disruptions of social ties. Various 'buffer measures' have been effective in preventing negative restructuring impacts on older residents.

Ageing in Place
Urban Restructuring
Social Networks
Social Support
Loneliness
Rotterdam

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:d4ce952a-7ec9-4d00-93c9-6b43d25cc1e6

https://doi.org/10.13189/sa.2018.061001

2331-6179

Sociology and Anthropology, 6 (10), 751-763

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2018 R.J. Kleinhans, Lex Veldboer, M. van Ham, S.J.T. Jansen