Discussion on walkable city planning considering frailty protection for the elderly

Abstract

This study aims to propose walkable city planning that incorporates frailty protection for the elderly using the Sannomiya Redevelopment Project in Kobe, Japan as a case study. A questionnaire survey was administered to 197 visitors to the Sannomiya area, which included questions on their current level of frailty, factors considered when selecting walking routes, and the number of steps taken in the selected area. Main results revealed that 8.4% and 16.1% of the early- and late-elderly respondents considered themselves frail. Additional results suggested that respondents ranked green space as the most important factor in selecting a walking route, and the route’s environment was important for respondents who were anxious about their physical abilities. Respondents who valued rest facilities tended to go on more walks, suggesting that the establishment of rest facilities increases the total number of steps taken.