Oslo as an age-friendly city

Photo by Oliver Cole on Unsplash

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. This bottom-up initiative was collected within the Sustainable Mobility research line. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Oslo, Norway

Supporting the independence of senior citizens

As life expectancy continues to rise, the Nordic region is seeing a steady increase in an ageing population. The municipality of Oslo, Norway, initiated a series of action to make the city more age friendly.

The overall vision of the work follows the WHO’s overarching definition of creating an age-friendly city that is inclusive, with an available and accessible urban environment that promotes active ageing. The initiative covers different areas:

• Social participation: All citizens have the opportunity to participate in society, engage in public debate and be involved in influencing the developments of the city.
• Transport: All citizens have access to the entire city, use public transport and feel safe while travelling. Senior citizens maintain their mobility and independence.
• Housing: Familiar environments and adapted surroundings promote safety. Adapted housing offers a foundation for enabling more seniors to master everyday life in their own homes.
• Outdoor areas and physical activity: Urban spaces and green areas in neighbourhoods are adapted for use by all age groups.
• Communication and participation: The senior population in Oslo has access to relevant, understandable, up-to-date, and reliable information.
• Health and care services: Seniors receive good help and comprehensive support when they need it, and experience a sense of achievement and safety in their lives.

A specific transportation service is being tested in several city districts. It includes door-to-door transportation with space for rollators and usually has one wheel chair spot per ride, targeting a user group above the age of 67. The driver is trained to handle older people with mobility or cognitive challenges. This type of age-friendly transportation is new to Oslo and combines social interaction and user-friendliness. The concessionary ticket price and prospect of socialising are good motivators for getting out and about more often than before. In addition to the individual’s benefit of the age-friendly transportation service, it also has a more positive environmental footprint than individual taxi services.

Find out more here.

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