Long term effects of an intervention in the outdoor environment—a comparison of older people’s perception in two residential areas, in one of which accessibility improvements were introduced

•A study on long term effects of an intervention in the outdoor environment.•A Study Area (intervention area) was compared with a Reference Area.•Respondents from the Study Area were more active in terms of walking and activity.•Respondents who were frequent walkers also reported more infrastructure barriers.•Vital to constantly maintain and improve the outdoor environment to meet the users’ needs.

Walking and participating in activities outdoors in old age can be restricted both by the physical capacity of the individual and by the maintenance and/or the design of the outdoor environment. The purpose of this paper is to compare frequency of walking and frequency of activity outside the home, reported environmental barriers and valuation of the outdoor environment between two areas, in one of which there was an intervention in the outdoor environment 5–8 years prior to this study. The paper is based on a questionnaire sent out in 2011, to all residents 65 years and older in two different areas, the Study Area, an area with an intervention, and the Reference Area. The results show that reports on functional limitations, use of mobility devices and walking difficulties were similar in both areas. Despite that, respondents in the Study Area had a significantly higher frequency of walking and they also participated to a higher degree in activities than respondents in the Reference Area, even though they reported more environmental barriers. The valuation of the outdoor environment was, however, similar in both areas. The results indicate that older people benefit from interventions in the outdoor environment. However, the results also emphasize the importance of good maintenance of the environment.