Engaging Older Adults in Urban Planning in Four European Cities: Fostering Inclusive and Sustainable Cities

To build sustainable cities and communities (SDG Goal 11), all sections of society, especially marginalized groups, need to be included in the development processes. As the global population ages, the importance of creating inclusive cities is becoming increasingly evident. By prioritizing the needs and preferences of older adults, cities may foster conditions that support independent living, social interaction, and healthy ageing. Urban planning is essential in this regard since it guarantees that the requirements and preferences of older adults are taken into consideration when designing cities. Recognizing older adults’ needs in urban environments can be achieved by involving them in planning and decision-making processes. It is very important to ensure the active participation of them in determining the priority of age-friendly urban planning strategies. For this purpose, geodata collection tools need to be developed and adapted to the needs of older adults. Geodata was gathered for this study using KoBo Toolbox, a free web-based, open-source data collecting tool. This tool facilitates data collection through surveys conducted in the field using mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. The study reveals the preliminary findings of data collected via KoBo Toolbox from four European cities (Bucharest, Kraków, The Hague, and Wrocław) regarding domains acknowledged within the WHO Age-Friendly Cities Framework. The findings also demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the KoBo Toolbox in facilitating inclusive data collection for age-friendly urban planning initiatives. By incorporating the perspectives of older adults through participatory data collection methods, cities can develop and implement strategies that truly meet the needs of their ageing populations and provide inclusive, sustainable, and liveable urban environments for all.