تحلیل فضاهای عمومی شهری با رویکرد شهر دوستدار سالمند(مورد پژوهشی منطقه 3 شهر اصفهان )

Introduction

Isfahan province is among the provinces that have a high percentage of the elderly population, such that according to the data from the Statistical Center of Iran in 2022, this province, with 12.9%, ranked fourth nationally in terms of the elderly percentage, after the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Tehran. On the other hand, regarding the distribution of the elderly population in the province, it is observed that the metropolis of Isfahan, with a population of 1,961,260 (Statistical Center of Iran, 2016), comprises a significant portion of the elderly population. Region 3, as one of the main and central areas of the city of Isfahan, has a considerable share of the city’s tourist attractions, government centers, service providers, and economic activities. It is one of the regions with a high percentage of elderly population, having 12,656 elderly individuals, making it one of the top three regions in terms of the number of seniors over 65 years old among all areas of Isfahan. Since the demographic trend in this area is moving towards aging, and this segment of society, due to their retirement, has a greater need to engage with urban spaces and requires a higher quality of public urban environment, this research aims to address the following question while presenting relevant theoretical concepts: How is the condition of public spaces in Region 3 of Isfahan city concerning the elements of an age-friendly city? Additionally, effective strategies will be proposed for adapting urban spaces to be more friendly for the elderly in Region 3 of Isfahan city.

Research Methodology

This research is classified as applied in terms of its objective and descriptive-analytical in terms of its nature and methodology. Theoretical aspects were investigated through library studies, while field data were collected via questionnaires, direct observation, and interviews. The statistical population comprises 12,656 elderly individuals aged 65 and above residing in Region 3 of Isfahan. A sample size of 400 individuals was selected using simple random sampling. The collected data were subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Specifically, the components of urban space suitability for an elderly-friendly city in Region 3 of Isfahan, along with the influencing factors as perceived by the elderly residents, were assessed and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, corresponding to the measurement level of the data and the study's hypotheses. The statistical software utilized for data analysis and map visualization includes SPSS and ArcGIS.

Results and discussion

With the significant increase in the elderly population in recent decades, addressing the specific needs of this demographic group in urban design and planning has become an undeniable imperative. Urban space serves not only as a platform for daily movement and activities but also plays a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life, mental well-being, and social participation of seniors. In this context, adapting the physical, functional, and social components of urban spaces with a comprehensive and human-centered approach can pave the way for creating environments that are safe, accessible, and responsive to the physical and psychological needs of the elderly. This research, by focusing on analyzing the current status and identifying challenges and opportunities, endeavors to provide a scientific framework for improving the quality of urban spaces in Isfahan's Region 3 to achieve an age-friendly city. The research findings indicated that the "Open Space and Buildings" component, with a mean score of 2.56, the "Transportation" component with a mean of 2.47, the "Social Participation" component with a mean of 2.07, and the "Recreational and Cultural" component with a mean of 1.73, are not in an optimal state. Furthermore, based on the findings from the structural model analysis, the "Open Space and Buildings" component, with a factor loading of 0.96, and the " Recreational-cultural " component, with a factor weight of 0.83, were ranked second in terms of importance.

Conclusion

The results of the research regarding the evaluation of components for adapting urban spaces to be elderly-friendly in Region 3 of Isfahan indicate that four main components—open spaces and buildings, transportation, social participation, and recreational-cultural services—are all in an undesirable state and are rated below the theoretical average level. The results of the one-sample t-test, with a very low significance level (Sig = 0.000) for most items, reveal a statistically significant difference between the current situation and the desired condition. Specifically, in the area of open spaces and buildings, there are noticeable deficiencies in accessibility, safety, and basic facilities such as restrooms, appropriate seating, and wheelchair pathways. The transportation component reflects the general dissatisfaction among seniors regarding urban transportation services and the misalignment of infrastructure with their mobility needs. In terms of social participation, elderly individuals face structural and social limitations that hinder their active presence and social interaction in public spaces. The recreational-cultural component indicates a lack of appropriate educational, recreational, and cultural programs for seniors, as well as a serious deficiency in related infrastructure. Therefore, these results clearly indicate that Region 3 of Isfahan faces significant challenges on the path toward becoming an age-friendly city. Consequently, a reevaluation of urban policies, comprehensive design of public spaces, and the enhancement of service, transportation, social, and cultural infrastructures must be prioritized in future planning efforts. This will lay the groundwork for improving the quality of life for the elderly and achieving spatial justice in this region.