Navigating old age and the urban terrain: Geographies of ageing from Africa

This paper extends research on geographies of ageing in relation to urban academic and policy debates. We illustrate how older people in urban African contexts deploy their agency through social and spatial (im)mobilities, intergenerational relations and (inter)dependencies. Through doing so, we reveal how urban contexts shape, and are shaped by, older people’s tactics for seizing opportunities and navigating the urban terrain. Our analysis demonstrates how a more substantive dialogue between insights on ageing in African contexts and urban ageing policy can create new forms of knowledge that are more equitable and just, both epistemologically and in their policy impacts

Mobility, transport and older people’s well being in sub-Saharan Africa: review and prospect

This chapter presents a review of the very limited research on older people’s mobility and transport needs in urban and rural contexts across Anglophone countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This is followed by reflections on recent mixed-methods research conducted through an NGO—academic collaboration with older people in rural Tanzania. Three themes given particular emphasis are, firstly, the significance of relationality in mobilities research with older people—other family and community members may substantially contribute to the shaping of older people’s mobile lives; secondly, the importance of exploring potential new connectivities associated with mobile phone and motorcycle-taxi usage among older people which may improve their well-being; and thirdly the value of taking a co-investigation approach to research with older community members. The final portion of the chapter is concerned with identification of significant research gaps where mobilities/transport-focused research with older people in sub-Saharan Africa is urgently needed

Does socioeconomic inequality in health persist among older people living in resource-poor urban slums?

Using self-reported health that assesses functionality or disability status, this paper investigates whether there are any differences in health status among older people living in a deprived area of Nairobi, Kenya. Data from a cross-sectional survey of 2,037 men and women aged 50 years and older are used to examine the association between socioeconomic position and self-reported health status across 6 health domains. Education, occupation, a wealth index, and main source of livelihood are used to assess the presence of a socioeconomic gradient in health. All the indicators showed the expected negative association with health across some, but not all, of the disability domains. Nonetheless, differences based on occupation, the most commonly used indicators to examine health inequalities, were not statistically significant. Primary level of education was a significant factor for women but not for men; conversely, wealth status was associated with lower disability for both men and women. Older people dependent on their own sources of livelihood were also less likely to report a disability. The results suggest the need for further research to identify an appropriate socioeconomic classification that is sensitive in identifying poverty and deprivation among older people living in slums