The roller. An Icon for Old Age and Mobility in the 21st Century.

Keywords: old age, walking, gender, urban planning, age friendly city
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Sunday
Session Start / End Time: 2/27/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/27/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 77

Abstract

The four wheeled roller today counts as one of the most well-known and widely used welfare technologies in the Nordic Countries. A fact that contrasts with the position of the roller in the public imagination and of neglect in knowledge production where rollers do not constitute a cutting edge research topic. This study provides knowledge on the values and perceptions of rollers for the elderly who need walking assistance and throw lights on daily practices. The theoretical framework consists in recent theories of aging, gender and diversity in combination with concepts of innovation and mobilities. It aligns with the challenge of emerging city demography which predicts that the proportion of elderly over 80 years will come to a steep rise in the coming years; a fact which makes mobility for the elderly a pressing need for future urban planning. The paper concludes with reflections on how the roller as a mobility device, as well as walking itself can be included the ranks of mobility and + in transport budgets and city planning.