Elderly on Track

The ElTra project enhanced active mobility among the elderly to improve their health while increasing social cohesion. The aged population in Europe is rising and healthcare investment on seniors is growing accordingly. The COVID-19 pandemic has meanwhile disrupted the social networks of many elderly people. Active mobility can positively impact physical and mental health while creating and reactivating social networks. The project’s starting point was to reconnect seniors with their community and its natural environment.

The project explored the links between elderly people’s comfort/perception and recorded physical and environmental parameters while testing walking routes. The project was implemented in the municipality of Rubí, in the Metropolitan Region of Barcelona. Occupying an area of 32,2km2, Rubí is home to 78,549 inhabitants, out of which 16% are aged over 65. Rubí is part of the Age-Friendly Cities Network with a +65 age target group. Rubí has also created an Elderly Strategic Plan, which includes some of the eight WHO dimensions to allow the elderly to evaluate cities and promote active ageing. These include: inclusion; mobility and transport; accessibility to public space; and citizen engagement.