Abstract

This paper aims to conceptualize ‘residential environment inclusivity’ from the perspective of urban older people as a vision for coping with their multidimensional exclusions, as well as to explore the specific experiences and meanings of older people in Seoul. We propose to construct the concept in five dimensions: participation, interdependence, security, openness, and accessibility, based on the literature related to urban inclusivity, older people’s exclusion, and age-friendly cities. A qualitative content analysis was conducted using the individual interview data of 10 older people in Seoul to clarify the concept in the context of their actual residential environment. The results show that the inclusive environment helps them to overcome exclusion and to achieve identity formation, relationship restoration, and life realm expansion. In terms of social inclusion, the participants overcome feelings of isolation and loss through a variety of activities around their homes and interdependence with neighbors, which increases their sense of accomplishment and solidarity. In terms of spatial inclusion, they expand opportunities for positive aging by living in a secure environment, freely experiencing open spaces, and easily accessing neighborhood facilities, allowing them to fulfill their identities, autonomy, and sense of connection. These findings suggest a need to enable older people to sustain an independent and socially connected life as community members by reinforcing the multi-dimensional inclusivity of their residential environment.