The Use of a Public Space in a Public Housing Complex by Senior Citizens: A Qualitative Study. Issue 2 (3rd April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matsumoto, Hiroshige; Kageyama, Masako; Yamamoto-Mitani, Noriko; Nagata, Satoko
• Is Part Of: Journal of aging and environment. Volume 35:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 107
• Page End: 124
• Publication Date: 2021-04-03
• Subjects: Ethnography -- housing complex -- public space -- third place -- social relationship; 305.260973
• DOI: 10.1080/26892618.2020.1802803
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2689-2618

Abstract

Abstract: Recently, many community gathering spaces (CGSs) have been built as platforms for senior citizens to socialize. This study constitutes an ethnographic examination of how senior citizens use a CGS in a public housing complex in Japan. The results depicted six characteristic styles in which senior citizens used the CGS: visiting a park, attending a school, using a library, using a meeting room, shopping for commodities, and participating in events. Frequency of CGS use and group cohesion were two properties that distinguished among the six styles. Moreover, environmental features of the CGS enabled senior citizens with various physical and social conditions to use the CGS.