Qualitative Data Place-Age: Older People Semi-structured Interviews in UK and Brazil, 2016-2017

This research selected three cities as case studies in Brazil (Pelotas, Belo Horizonte, and Brasilia) and three cities as case studies in the UK (Edinburgh, Manchester and Glasgow). The case study cities represented a broad spectrum of urban areas, in terms of demography (mixed tenures by age), inequality (health and social disparities between high and low income groups), topography (different types of urban densities and form) and urban development (varying levels of physical transformation and change). Within each of the case study cities, three neighbourhoods were selected as study sites reflecting a diversity in population density and income levels (measures guided by previous research examining neighbourhood satisfaction amongst older adults). The neighbourhoods comprised a mix of low, medium and high income and low, medium and high-density areas. Neighbourhood level analysis has been chosen because: (i) the greatest time spent by older adults in retirement is at home and in the immediate neighbourhood locality, (ii) older adults are increasingly dependent upon social relationships in the neighbourhood as they age; and (iii) older adults have important psychological and emotional bonds and association with the neighbourhood (as community). As part of the first work package of the research, a total number of 180 semi-structured interviews (30 per case study city; 10 per neighbourhood) were conducted with older adults to explore the in-depth experiences of ageing-in-place. The interviews identified how sense of place is negotiated and constructed (meaning, identity, belonging), identifying everyday behaviours within the built environment, and the importance of specific social and cultural supports.