AGE-15 / Age-friendly Neighbourhoods

AGE-15 will conduct interdisciplinary research at neighbourhood level in Sweden, the Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey (WP3), and study collaborative housing in Sweden and Japan (WP4) to address the challenges of urban ageing from a 15mC perspective. The project will develop and validate new quantitative and qualitative tools to assess older adults’ experiences in selected neighbourhoods, including surveys and walking interviews. Fieldwork for WP3 will be carried out in Gothenburg, The Hague, Lisbon, and Istanbul, while best practices in collaborative housing will be studied in Tokyo. 

AGE-15 will organize urban living labs and co-creation workshops that involve older adults, local governments, and stakeholders to design planning guidelines for age-friendly, proximity-based neighbourhoods in Lisbon and Istanbul. By combining comparative research and participatory methodologies across diverse contexts, AGE-15 will create guidelines and strategies adaptable to different urban realities, directly supporting healthier, more independent, and socially connected lives for older adults.

AGE-15 will deliver evidence-based tools and guidelines to make neighbourhoods more age-friendly, including a 15mC perspective. The project’s results include validated surveys and concrete recommendations for cities to better support older adults. AGE-15 will produce tailored guidelines for countries experiencing rapid ageing—Sweden, the Netherlands, and Portugal—and for Turkey, where ageing is increasing more slowly. By focusing on collaborative housing and proximity to services, the project aims to reduce isolation, improve mobility, and promote independent, healthy ageing. Its comparative approach ensures adaptable solutions for diverse urban settings. The impact will include more inclusive urban communities, informed planning and policy, and empowered older adults. Through these contributions, AGE-15 helps cities become resilient and supportive places where people can age actively and with dignity.