Towards age-friendly cities and communites : a case study of the Sliema locality

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate age-friendly measures and barriers which determine age-friendliness in Sliema. The purpose of the thesis was to assess the degree of age-friendliness in Sliema through a baseline assessment and evaluation of grid services that are available to older Sliema residents. Since the researcher opted to select cases to represent a selected geographical region, and thus within an ecological boundary, a case study research approach was used to achieve the aims and objectives of the study,. The objectives were achieved through a quantitative approach whereby through the formulation of a questionnaire, so that the researcher studied the perception of residents in Sliema (Malta) as regards the localities’ age-friendliness across the 8 domains among 181 participants. Mean scores for all 8 age-friendly domains were determined. ‘Social participation’ had the highest mean score and ‘Respect and Social Inclusion’ had the least mean score. The overall mean score for all 8 domains was of 2.11 The results provided a source of baseline data to identify key areas of concern. The research examined the relationship between the independent variables being ‘perceived quality of life’, ‘perceived physical health’, ‘perceived mental health’, ‘age’, ‘gender’ and ‘level of education’, to the dependent variable ‘age-friendliness’. There was a positive correlation between 5 out of the 6 variables. Recommendations on how to improve age-friendliness in Sliema have been put forward. The way to move forward is the formulation of an action plan where all the concerned stakeholders combine their resources and move towards a more age-friendly Sliema.