Age-inclusive Arctic outdoor spaces: a policy review in four Nordic countries
In the last decade, policy strategies were adopted in response to population ageing in the Nordic countries. Governmental actions have to be evaluated in terms of their efficacy. The objective of this article is to identify and review the policies related to age-inclusive outdoor spaces in the Arcti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2024.2339561 |
| _version_ | 1826956842693033984 |
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| author | Anastasia Emelyanova Bodil H. Blix Agneta Larsson Steinunn A. Olafsdottir Arja Rautio |
| author_facet | Anastasia Emelyanova Bodil H. Blix Agneta Larsson Steinunn A. Olafsdottir Arja Rautio |
| author_sort | Anastasia Emelyanova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the last decade, policy strategies were adopted in response to population ageing in the Nordic countries. Governmental actions have to be evaluated in terms of their efficacy. The objective of this article is to identify and review the policies related to age-inclusive outdoor spaces in the Arctic regions of Nordic countries. Our analysis focuses on central government white papers that address the older adults in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. A review of such policy documents provides insights into the predominant understandings of older adults and healthy ageing. Moreover, such analysis may identify “blind spots” in the national policies, especially regarding the sparsely researched northernmost and rural Arctic territories. Our results demonstrate how the older populations in the Nordic Arctic and their access to outdoor spaces are addressed in the policy documents. We found that with few exceptions, the older people of the rural Arctic is strikingly absent in the Nordic national governmental papers. Moreover, access to outdoor spaces is mentioned in general terms, and specific challenges of the rural Arctic context, such as the harsh climate, long winters and geographical distances are not addressed. The noticed omissions might be the result of “urban-rural”, “south-north”, “indoor-outdoor”, and “generalisation” biases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T09:47:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d88b9749b82d4363ad968878cffd10e5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2242-3982 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-18T00:12:39Z |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d88b9749b82d4363ad968878cffd10e52024-11-29T19:53:25ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Circumpolar Health2242-39822024-12-0183110.1080/22423982.2024.2339561Age-inclusive Arctic outdoor spaces: a policy review in four Nordic countriesAnastasia Emelyanova0Bodil H. Blix1Agneta Larsson2Steinunn A. Olafsdottir3Arja Rautio4Thule Institute, University of Oulu, Oulu, FinlandDepartment of health and care sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayDivision of Health, Medicine and Rehabilitation, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, SwedenDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, IcelandArctic Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, FinlandIn the last decade, policy strategies were adopted in response to population ageing in the Nordic countries. Governmental actions have to be evaluated in terms of their efficacy. The objective of this article is to identify and review the policies related to age-inclusive outdoor spaces in the Arctic regions of Nordic countries. Our analysis focuses on central government white papers that address the older adults in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. A review of such policy documents provides insights into the predominant understandings of older adults and healthy ageing. Moreover, such analysis may identify “blind spots” in the national policies, especially regarding the sparsely researched northernmost and rural Arctic territories. Our results demonstrate how the older populations in the Nordic Arctic and their access to outdoor spaces are addressed in the policy documents. We found that with few exceptions, the older people of the rural Arctic is strikingly absent in the Nordic national governmental papers. Moreover, access to outdoor spaces is mentioned in general terms, and specific challenges of the rural Arctic context, such as the harsh climate, long winters and geographical distances are not addressed. The noticed omissions might be the result of “urban-rural”, “south-north”, “indoor-outdoor”, and “generalisation” biases.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2024.2339561Age-friendlyolder individualsruralFinlandNorwaySweden |
| spellingShingle | Anastasia Emelyanova Bodil H. Blix Agneta Larsson Steinunn A. Olafsdottir Arja Rautio Age-inclusive Arctic outdoor spaces: a policy review in four Nordic countries International Journal of Circumpolar Health Age-friendly older individuals rural Finland Norway Sweden |
| title | Age-inclusive Arctic outdoor spaces: a policy review in four Nordic countries |
| title_full | Age-inclusive Arctic outdoor spaces: a policy review in four Nordic countries |
| title_fullStr | Age-inclusive Arctic outdoor spaces: a policy review in four Nordic countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age-inclusive Arctic outdoor spaces: a policy review in four Nordic countries |
| title_short | Age-inclusive Arctic outdoor spaces: a policy review in four Nordic countries |
| title_sort | age inclusive arctic outdoor spaces a policy review in four nordic countries |
| topic | Age-friendly older individuals rural Finland Norway Sweden |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22423982.2024.2339561 |
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