“Long live the rollator!”

Examining walkability for elderly using a rollator

As the Dutch population ages, more elderly individuals are staying at home longer. Walking is crucial for older adults to maintain health and independence, and many rely on rollators. While various studies have shown how urban environments facilitate walkability for the elderly, limited attention has been given to the specific needs of rollator users. This study employs a novel, city-specific, mixed-method approach combining walk-along interviews, Q methodology, and spatial analysis to examine the experiences of elderly rollator users and the impact of public space characteristics on their walkability in Amsterdam. The findings reveal that the walkability of elderly rollator users depends on a combination of subjective factors, environmental factors, the urban configuration, and sidewalk characteristics. Key factors for walkability of elderly rollator users are proximity to public transport and amenities, sidewalk maintenance and smoothness, while weather conditions and fear are main reasons to avoid walking. Spatial analysis indicates that 20% of sidewalk segments in Amsterdam are unwalkable and 25% are perfectly walkable for elderly rollator users. The study underscores the importance of involving specific groups when assessing walkability and demonstrates that the approach used is promising for this purpose.