Participatory Methods to Support Climate Adaptation for Older Adults Living in Vulnerable Urban Areas: An Ethnographic Study
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Research Design
2.2. Case Study Area
2.3. Setting and Participants
2.4. Data Collection
2.5. Data Processing and Analysis
2.6. Ethical Considerations
3. Results
- Sample Description
- Participants’ perceptions of climate change
(…) Everything is different. We have uncontrolled weather in all seasons. (…) It is very destabilised. And the disasters, the oceans, the catastrophes, that are increasing more and more (…)(E15, female, 81 years old)
(…) Yes, there is a difference. The summer season did not last as long as it does now. Now it is very hot. And then we are as well off as we are. There is cold, there is heat. Rapid changes, and that hurts people a bit (…)(E7, male, 81 years old)
(…) Man has damaged it. He has damaged everything, he wants to do this, he wants to do that, he wants more, he wants to do things he should not do (…)(E6, woman, 77 years old)
- 2.
- Challenges of adverse weather
(…) We always catch colds. Look, this weekend was hot and today is cold. It is very uncertain. I have been coughing a lot as a result of the weather (…)(E4, woman, 85 years old)
(…) It affects me because I have arthritis in my hips, and it is a pain you cannot imagine. (…) The change of weather for the bones is no joke (…)(E5, male, 81 years old)
(…) I have been feeling it because I get home and I can’t handle the pain in my bones (…)(E9, woman, 91 years old)
- 3.
- Urban Mobility
3.1. Means of Transport
(…) Sometimes, I come here on a small public bus, that passes through my area, and sometimes it feels like a swing because of the cobblestones. It is horrible; I would rather take the other bus because I get off at São Roque, and I would rather take that little thing that shakes all over the place (…)(E2, woman, 79 years old)
(…) My daughter, a teacher at the Falcão school, brings me here in the morning and takes me in the afternoon. (…)(E4, female, 85 years old)
(…) I often walk from here to my daughter’s street. So, I am used to walk a lot. Sometimes I go by car because I still drive (…)(E8, man, 91 years old)
(…) I usually come in the centre’s van. I go to Soutelo and catch the van there. The money would not be enough if the van picked me up at home. I pay 60€ here, if I had to pay for transport, the money would not be enough (…)(E5, male, 65 years old)
3.2. Autonomy to Move Around
(…) I go to the pharmacy; I go to the bank to see my account statement and withdraw money. Yes, I do not walk downtown; it is far, and I can’t. However, once needed, I take the bus to the doctor (…)(E16, female, 75 years old)
(…) only when my daughter can’t pick me up, I take the bus. But I manage fine on the bus (…)(E4, woman, 85 years old)
(…) No, not anymore. I have to ask my children. Because, as I told you, I had a stroke and this is going very slowly (…)(E6, woman, 77 years old)
- 4.
- Urban space perceptions
(…) Everything is the same as it was. No one has done anything. The mayor does nothing (…)(E6, female, 77 years old)
(…) It is not going to get any better than it is. Because in a few years, it will be the same (…)(E7, male, 81 years old)
(…) I have lived here since I got married when I was 25. I liked it better the way it was. Now there are no neighbours like there used to be, it is all full of people and drugs. The houses are all empty (…)(E9, woman, 91 years old)
- 5.
- Identified territorial challenges
(…) The pavements are narrow, I walk slowly, and they are all bumpy. They should tar everything. Some are so small that they are smaller than the width of this table. They’re sloping (…)(E5, male, 65 years old)
(…) It is more or less, but I cannot explain it either. The pavements are not in good condition. Some are higher, some lower. Full of loose stones, you fall, and nobody cares. (…)(E10, woman, 86 years old)
(…) Everything is degraded surrounding this centre, so it should be fixed. Because then we could go outside more in the summer (…)(E4, woman, 85 years old)
- 6.
- Difficulties faced by Illnesses
(…) I have been suffering from my prostate for many years, and I have been medicated for a long time. Also, back pain affects walking straight away. I get more tired (…)(E8, male, 91 years old)
(…) Difficulty walking… I have a bad leg. I find it hard to walk. (…) I limit myself to my possibilities (…)(E6, female, 77 years old)
(…) Apart from my wrist, which is annoying, it is just my bone problems that affect my mobility (…)(E3, woman, 92 years old)
(…) I have had two falls because of my disability, meningitis. And then I fell in the street (…)(E16, woman, 75 years old)
- 7.
- The role of public administration
(…) Restore all those abandoned houses out there. Many are privately owned, but there must also be state-owned ones. They are completely neglected and give the appearance of abandonment. If you look down the street in São Roque da Lameira, you will see the abandoned houses. It would bring more life to the area (…)(E8, male, 81 years old)
(…) There, in the market area, we have a little garden. They could fix it and put it back the way it was before. Now it’s all destroyed (…)(E6, woman, 71 years old)
(…) Make a park, at least for people to have fun there and spend a bit of time. Because even now, with the weather, autumn and winter, you cannot go outside. But in summer, at least, it is healthier (…)(E15, female, 81 years old)
- 8.
- Suggestions for urban improvement
(…) Cities look good with trees and plants. Shade is good for everything, even the climate. Trees help make the climate cooler. There is a lot to improve here, starting with better pavements, taking advantage of empty spaces to put some plants (…)(E8, male, 91 years old)
(…) There should be better streets and even pavements for people to walk on. If these things were fixed up, it would be good (…)(E10, woman, 86 years old)
(…) They should fix the surrounding streets. Moreover, a ramp should be put in here for the cars to enter. (…)(E13, woman, 79 years old)
- Sample Description
- 9.
- Relationship with the Public Space, belonging and well-being
- 10.
- Perception of the Neighbourhood and Feeling of Belonging
- 11.
- Comfort, Safety and Conservation of Public Space
- 12.
- Well-being in Hot and Windy Weather
- 13.
- Accessibility
- 14.
- Amenities, Furniture and Urban Facilities
- 15.
- Improvement Suggestions for the Territory
- 16.
- Use and Users on-site observations
- Sample Description
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A
- What is your name and age?
- Do you live alone or with your family? If not, in what type of living situation do you reside?
- How long have you lived here? Or how much time do you spend here?
- What is your level of education, what do you do, or what did you do before retirement?
- Do you consider that you have enough money to meet your needs? (None, Little, Moderately, or Quite a lot)
- Have you noticed these changes in the area where you live? In what way? How does it affect your day-to-day life? Which changes are the hardest to overcome/endure?
- Do you recall any situations where you felt physically unwell or experienced complications due to the weather, such as fainting, slipping because of rain, or losing balance due to wind?
- Have you ever felt sadder, more anxious, or confused because of the climate/weather?
- Have these changes in climate/weather ever prevented you from sleeping well?
- Where do you typically go during the day? Could you describe what a normal day looks like for you?
- What routes do you usually take? Do you take these routes alone, with others, on foot, by public transportation, or by private transportation?
- Do you use nearby public spaces? Are these spaces comfortable? Do you feel there’s a lack of something, such as shade, resting areas (benches), or water to refresh yourself?
- Do you have any problems or difficulties in your routines? Can you tell us more about them? Do you have trouble getting in or out of your home? Are the streets too steep to walk? Are bus stops sparse and far apart? Are public services in difficult-to-reach locations? Are sidewalks in poor condition?
- How do these difficulties affect your life? What would help you overcome these challenges? Do you use any strategies to deal with these challenges, such as choosing certain times to leave the house, opting for routes with more shade, or taking a taxi?
- What health issues do you currently have? How do these issues affect your mobility and quality of life?
- Do you think that the place where you live has any relation to your health and mobility problems? If yes, in what way? What strategies do you use to cope with this?
Appendix B
GENERAL INFORMATION | - Date and time of questionnaire. - Identification of the name of the place/space. - Geolocation of the place/space. - Photographic record of the place/space. |
PARTICIPANTS | - How old are you? - Do you live in the neighbourhood? - If yes, how long have you been living in the neighbourhood? - If not, how often do you come to the neighbourhood? Are you a worker, a regular visitor or a tourist/sporadic visitor? |
CHOICES | - Do you like going to an open public space? - If yes, why and at what time? - If not, why not? - What is the most important or interesting place in São Roque da Lameira, and why? - Where is it located? - Can you think of any public spaces or places that have lost importance recently? - Where is it located? - If you had to arrange a meeting point, where would it be? - What do you like to do the most when away from home? - How often do you visit this place? - Why have you come to this place today? - How long do you expect to be here today? |
SENSE OF BELONGING AND WELL-BEING | - How do you feel about this neighbourhood? - What do you feel when you are in this place/space? - What do you like the most about this place/space? Why do you like it? - What do you not like about this place/space? Why do you not like it? - Is there any noise, dust, odours or other types of pollution? - What is your general opinion of this place/space (in terms of design and long-term conservation)? - Do you feel welcome in this place/space? Why? - Does it have a good scale? Are there any landmarks? - Do you see people with special needs (parents with small children, people in wheelchairs or using walking sticks, people with visual or hearing impairments) walking/rolling through this area? |
COMFORT AND SAFETY | - Do you feel safe, partially safe or not at all safe in the place/space? - Is this public space considered safe during the day and at night? - Are there people and activities at any time of the day? Why? - Does the lighting provide safety at night and a good atmosphere? - Are there places where it is not advisable to go? - What obstacles and difficulties do you encounter in this place/space? - Do you feel safe when walking on the pavement? Why? - Do you think people of different ages feel safe? |
STATE OF CONSERVATION OF PUBLIC SPACE | - Do you think the pavement are well maintained? Why do you think so? - What do you think about the cleanliness of the streets? - Are there any vandalised elements around this place/space? |
PERCEPTION OF WELL-BEING IN HOT AND WINDY WEATHER | - When it is very hot, where do you usually go to feel comfortable? - Do you think there is enough shade in this area? - Do you think this place has enough trees or green areas? - Do you think the benches, garden tables, and bus stops are protected from the sun, rain and wind? - Does the space work well when it is windy? Are there shelters against intense sun, rain or minor flooding? - When it is hot, which garden or square do you use the most? - On very hot days, which street is the most pleasant to walk along? |
ACCESSIBILITY | - How do you get to this place/space? - Do you use any means of transport? - Do you think the public transport stops are sufficient and well located? - When you walk, which route do you use the most? - Is it easy to get around in this area? Are there any constraints? - Do you think there are enough pedestrian routes? - Do you think there are enough ramps for wheelchairs? - Would you like to see a network of cycle paths in the area? |
AMENITIES, FURNITURE, AND EQUIPMENT | - Where do you usually go when you feel lonely and need to talk to someone? - Do you feel the need for space to socialise? - Do you think people can sit or stand in this space? - Do you think this space is suitable for physical activity? - Do you think there are enough playgrounds in the area? - Are there enough benches and garden tables? Are they well-located? - Do you think there is a need for sanitary facilities? - Are the waste recycling facilities properly used? |
IDEAS/SUGGESTIONS | - What would you change about this place/space? - What would you like to see in this place/space? |
SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PARTICIPANTS | - What is your level of education? - What is/was your profession? - What is/was your work situation? - Where is/was your workplace? - Do you live alone? If you don’t live alone, who do you live with? |
Appendix C
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Method | Objective | Duration | Required Materials | N° of Participants | Type of Participation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
(I) Open-ended Interviews | Explore perceptions and experiences of climate change, mobility, and well-being | 60 min per interview, conducted over 4 months (June-Oct 2024) | Interview guide, audio recorder, informed consent | 16 | Active participation, answering questions in a structured setting |
(II) ‘Go-along’ Interviews | Understand how older adults perceive and interact with the urban environment in real-time | 15 min per participant, conducted over 2 months (Jan-Feb 2025) | Interview guide, informed consent | 36 | It combines consultative and active participation, engaging participants in research without decision-making influence |
(III) User observations | Analyse behavioural patterns, movement flows, and social interactions in public spaces | 30 min of observation at each location (August 2024) | Photographs of locations, KoBoToolbox, hand-drawn sketches, GIS Field maps, field notes | Not applicable (passive observation) | Indirect/passive participation, no direct interaction with observed individuals |
(IV) Emotional Mapping | Identify positive and negative perceptions of public spaces and suggest improvements | 60 min, single session (Feb 2024) | Photographs of locations, red and green cards, informed consent | 9 | Active participation, expressing opinions on images and engaging in group discussions |
Interviewee Code | Gender | Age | Education | Living Situation |
---|---|---|---|---|
P1 | Female | 72 | 4° grade | Living alone |
P2 | Female | 79 | 3° grade | Living alone |
P3 | Female | 92 | 3° grade | Living together |
P4 | Female | 85 | 4° grade | Living together |
P5 | Male | 65 | 3° grade (incomplete) | Living alone |
P6 | Female | 77 | 4° grade | Living alone |
P7 | Male | 81 | 4° grade | Living alone |
P8 | Male | 91 | 10° grade | Living together |
P9 | Female | 91 | 4° grade | Living alone |
P10 | Female | 86 | 4° grade | Living together |
P11 | Male | 67 | 4° grade | Living alone |
P12 | Female | 91 | 4° grade | Living alone |
P13 | Female | 79 | 11° grade | Living together |
P14 | Female | 93 | 4° grade | Living alone |
P15 | Female | 81 | 3° grade | Living alone |
P16 | Female | 75 | 4° grade | Living alone |
Categories and Subcategories | Description |
---|---|
1. Participants’ perceptions of climate change | Organises participants’ perceptions on climate change. |
2. Challenges of adverse weather | Organises participants’ difficulties due to adverse weather conditions. |
3. Urban mobility | Gathers insights on participants’ experiences and perceptions of urban mobility. |
| Subcategory of Urban mobility, addressing participants’ ability to move independently. |
| Subcategory detailing the types of transportation the participants use. |
4. Urban space perceptions | Organises participants’ perception of the urban space. |
5. Identified territorial challenges | Documents the difficulties participants identified in the territory. |
6. Difficulties faced by Illnesses | Addresses participants’ health-related difficulties. |
7. Role of public administration | Explores the role of public administration in territorial (or urban) improvement. |
8. Suggestions for urban improvement | Collects participants ‘ suggestions for enhancing the urban territory. |
PROFILE OF RESPONDENTS | ||
---|---|---|
CATEGORY | CHARACTERISATION | TOTAL |
Total Respondents | Respondents Over 65 | 36 |
Age | 65–69 | 12 |
70–74 | 8 | |
75–79 | 8 | |
80+ | 8 | |
Gender | Female | 14 |
Male | 22 | |
Schooling | Cannot Read and Write | 1 |
4th Year Of School Or Less | 12 | |
Up To 9th Grade | 5 | |
9th Year Of School | 5 | |
Secondary School | 2 | |
Non-higher Technical Education | 1 | |
Incomplete Higher Education | 1 | |
Higher Education Completed | 8 | |
Did Not Answer | 1 | |
Profession | Industry And Production | 4 |
Construction And Maintenance | 10 | |
Services And Commerce | 11 | |
Public Sector And Security Forces | 5 | |
Education And Health | 4 | |
Transport And Mobility | 1 | |
Did Not Answer | 1 | |
Labour Situation | Retired/Pensioner | 31 |
Unemployed | 4 | |
Self-employed | 1 | |
If You Live In The Neighbourhood | Yes | 32 |
No | 4 | |
Yes: How Long Have You Lived In The Neighbourhood? | Under 18 | 9 |
18 To 30 Years Old | 3 | |
31 To 50 Years Old | 7 | |
51 To 60 Years Old | 6 | |
Over 60 | 7 | |
No: What Brings The Neighbourhood? | Visiting People | 2 |
Shopping | 1 | |
Did Not Answer | 1 | |
If You Live Alone/Who You Live With | Wife/Husband (Even If Not Married) | 15 |
Wife/Husband and Child(ren) | 4 | |
Child(ren) Only | 3 | |
Lives Alone | 9 | |
Parents (Father And/Or Mother) And Other Relatives | 2 | |
Other | 2 | |
Did Not Answer | 1 |
PROFILE OF RESPONDENTS | ||
---|---|---|
CATEGORY | CHARACTERISATION | TOTAL |
Total Respondents | Respondents Over 65 | 9 |
Age | 65–69 | 2 |
70–74 | 1 | |
75–79 | 2 | |
Over 80 | 4 | |
Gender | Female | 6 |
Male | 3 | |
Schooling | 3rd Year of School | 1 |
4th Year of School | 8 | |
Living Situation | Living Alone | 7 |
Living with children | 2 | |
Labour Situation | Retired/Pensioner | 7 |
Permanent illness/incapacity | 1 | |
Household/Family Care | 1 | |
Marital status | Divorced | 1 |
Widowed | 5 | |
Single | 3 |
Zone | Barriers | Facilitators | Improvement Suggestions |
---|---|---|---|
Photo 1—São Roque Neighbourhood | Uneven pavement, holes, lack of seating places | Well-structured buildings | Install benches, repair pavement |
Photo 2—São Roque Neighbourhood | Difficult parking, lack of benches | Trees, shaded areas, well-maintained buildings | Increase green area, add seating areas |
Photo 3—São Roque Neighbourhood | Uneven pavement, lack of ramps for wheelchair users | - | Install ramps, repair pavement |
Photo 4—São Roque Neighbourhood | Raised drainage covers, narrow pavement, inadequate bus stop shelter | Well-located bus stop | Widen pavement, install bus stop shelter, lower drainage covers |
Photo 5—São Roque Neighbourhood | Untreated grass, uncomfortable stone benches, lack of maintenance | - | Install benches with backrests, maintain green spaces |
Photo 6—São Roque Neighbourhood | Poorly maintained area, excessive concrete | - | Plant flowers and trees, increase cleaning frequency |
Photo 7—São Roque Neighbourhood -Largo de Valverde | - | School, large garden, pleasant square | - |
Photo 8—São Roque Neighbourhood—Largo de Valverde | Overgrown trees, uneven pavement | Refurbished apartments | Trimming trees, repair pavement |
Photo 9—Natália Correia Street | Empty space | - | Build a green park or create social centre or playground |
Photo 10—Senhora de Campanhã Street | Narrow pavement, unsuitable for people with special needs | - | Widen pavement, improve accessibility |
Photo 11- São Roque Street | Poorly parked vehicles | Smooth tar | Enforce parking regulations |
Photo 12—São Roque Street | Poorly located pedestrian crossing, broken pavement, lack of benches | Smooth tar | Relocate pedestrian crossing, repair pavement, install benches |
Photo 13—São Roque Street | Narrow pavement, heavy traffic, dangerous intersection | Smooth tar | Reduce traffic, improve pedestrian safety |
Photo 14—São Roque Street—Supermarket | - | Wide pavement, essential services (e.g., pharmacy) | - |
Photo 15—São Roque Street—Supermarket (stairs) | Construction over water source, lack of external improvements | Matadouro redevelopment project, Oriental Park | Improve external area, consider environmental impact of projects |
METHODOLOGY | TARGET | IMPLEMENTATION | CHALLENGES | LIMITATIONS | RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REAL-WORLD SITUATION |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Individual interviews | Fully achieved | Partially achieved | Not achieved | Partially achieved | - Use observational methods to capture non-verbalized aspects. - Improve question formulation to facilitate memory recall and verbalization. - Implement visual aids (such as photos or videos) to encourage more detailed responses. - Expand the application sites to other Daycare Centers, for example. |
Understand older adults’ perceptions of climate change, health, mobility, and public space | Conducted with 16 participants at a Day Center, using open-ended questions | Selective memory challenge: Participants may not recall details of their past experiences accurately. Difficulty in verbalization: Some participants have trouble expressing subjective experiences. | Lack of direct spatial context (may not fully capture participants’ real-time interactions with urban spaces or the practical challenges they face daily). Reliance on memory and perception | ||
Go-along interviews | Partially achieved | Not achieved | Not achieved | Partially achieved | - Conduct the methodology during the summer or in warmer periods. - Adapt the routes based on participants’ mobility capabilities. - Expand the sample to ensure the inclusion of more women, people with reduced mobility, and disabilities. - Reformulate some open-ended questions. - Expand the outreach areas near local institutions. |
Record older adults’ perceptions of public space and their lived experiences (challenges and potentials) | 36 interviews conducted while participants walked through the neighborhood | Mobility restrictions: Mobility difficulties limit the length of the routes. Cold weather: Cold weather hindered detailed assessment and reduced participation. Superficial responses: Questions not formulated in a targeted manner may lead to superficial responses. | Challenges related to limited mobility and cold weather, restricted the central objective of the expected results. Difficulties to map the trajectories enterviews. | ||
Emotional mapping | Partially achieved | Not achieved | Not achieved | Partially achieved | - Increase the sample size to ensure greater diversity of responses. - Combine with qualitative methods (interviews or observations) to gain more context. - Diversify the data with different types of spaces, such as public and private spaces frequented by older adults. - Expand partnerships with local institutions focused on older adults, which could be useful in increasing the sample size. |
Identify positive and negative aspects of the urban environment from the perspective of older adults | 9 participants evaluated images of neighborhood spaces, indicating positive perceptions (green card) and negative perceptions (red card) | Subjectivity in responses: The interpretation of images may vary according to each participant’s personal experiences, making categorization difficult. Small sample size: The small sample size may not reflect the diversity of the elderly population. | Participants may struggle with the abstract nature of the task or feel uncomfortable expressing emotions, leading to incomplete data | ||
Observation of space use | Fully achieved | Partially achieved | Not achieved | Partially achieved | - Combine observations with interviews. - Conduct observations at different times and days of the week. - Integrate with other methodologies. - Strategic locations such as squares, public parks, and markets should be more frequently addressed, in addition to consulting senior citizen social centers. |
Map movement patterns, gathering areas, and challenges faced by older adults in public spaces | Observations in strategic spaces on hot days to identify movement patterns and space usage | Difficulty in capturing subjective perceptions: Observation alone may not be sufficient to understand the motivations and feelings of participants regarding the spaces. Influence of momentary events: Observation can be influenced by temporary factors, such as sporadic events that alter behavior patterns. | Observations requires long times observations |
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da Silva, J.B.; Tini, B.; Martins, A.; Mimoso, I.; Figueiredo, T.; Fernandes, A.S.; Gaspar, F.; Lameira, G.; Midão, L.; Alcântara, L.; et al. Participatory Methods to Support Climate Adaptation for Older Adults Living in Vulnerable Urban Areas: An Ethnographic Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22, 850. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060850
da Silva JB, Tini B, Martins A, Mimoso I, Figueiredo T, Fernandes AS, Gaspar F, Lameira G, Midão L, Alcântara L, et al. Participatory Methods to Support Climate Adaptation for Older Adults Living in Vulnerable Urban Areas: An Ethnographic Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2025; 22(6):850. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060850
Chicago/Turabian Styleda Silva, Joel Bruno, Bibiana Tini, Ana Martins, Inês Mimoso, Teodora Figueiredo, Ana Silva Fernandes, Franklin Gaspar, Gisela Lameira, Luís Midão, Leovaldo Alcântara, and et al. 2025. "Participatory Methods to Support Climate Adaptation for Older Adults Living in Vulnerable Urban Areas: An Ethnographic Study" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22, no. 6: 850. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060850
APA Styleda Silva, J. B., Tini, B., Martins, A., Mimoso, I., Figueiredo, T., Fernandes, A. S., Gaspar, F., Lameira, G., Midão, L., Alcântara, L., Ahmad, M. I., Batista, L., Rocha, P., Ramos, R. J. G., Cruz, S., Rocha, C., Corvacho, H., Ribeiro, A., Conceição, P., ... Costa, E. (2025). Participatory Methods to Support Climate Adaptation for Older Adults Living in Vulnerable Urban Areas: An Ethnographic Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(6), 850. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060850