‘We Make Ourselves at Home Wherever We are’ – Older People's Placemaking in Newton Hall

Bettina van Hoven; Linden Douma

doi:10.2478/v10105-012-0006-7

Authors

Bettina van Hoven Department of Cultural Geography, Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 800, 9700AV Groningen, the Netherlands
Linden Douma Department of Demography, Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen, PO Box 800, 9700AV Groningen, the Netherlands

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2478/v10105-012-0006-7

Keywords:

ageing, older people, place attachment, Newton Hall

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore older in-migrants' experiences and perceptions of their spatial context at the neighbourhood level, the key aspects in their attachment to the neighbourhood, and the role of place in their experience of ageing. Our qualitative research was carried out in Newton Hall (United Kingdom). The findings show that older people can have a proactive role in terms of placemaking and their own wellbeing. However, the study also reveals that the condition of the spatial context can either support or hinder older people's sense of wellbeing.

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