Age-inclusive Arctic outdoor spaces: a policy review in four Nordic countries

Int J Circumpolar Health. 2024 Dec;83(1):2339561. doi: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2339561. Epub 2024 Apr 14.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Age-friendly; Finland; Iceland; Norway; Sweden; older individuals; rural.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arctic Regions
  • Finland
  • Humans
  • Iceland
  • Policy*
  • Scandinavian and Nordic Countries

Grants and funding

This work was supported with the project that has received funding from The Nordic Arctic Co-operation Programme, administered by NAPA and Ilisimatusarfik, University of Greenland, entitled “Arctic Healthy Aging communities: Safe and inclusive outdoor environment and public spaces (The Nordic AHA-Communities)”.