BaltSe@nioR 2.0

Survey on senior-friendly public places in the Baltic Sea region

Dear Sir or Madam,

with this questionnaire we would like to know more about your preferences and needs, and your previous use of the furniture in the public space. For example, do you often use a bench in the park, do you care about its height, or is it important for you that the furniture in the city is made of sustainable materials?Your opinion is important to us so that public spaces can be designed more appropriately for the elderly.

The survey takes place within the framework of the EU co-financed project BaltSe@nioR 2.0 within Baltic Sea Region programme.This questionnaire is applied identically in our international consortium with partners from Latvia, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Russia, Germany and Sweden, and collects opinions, preferences and needs across borders.

This is an anonymous survey.

Thank you for answering the questions!

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* 1. Gender

female

male

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* 2. Age

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* 3. Height (cm)

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* 4. City

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* 5. Country

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* 6. What type of furniture do you use most often in public space? (please select a maximum of 3 answers)

seats at the bus / tram/train station

benches in parks

benches around block of flats

furniture in shopping centers, museums, theaters, libraries etc.

seats in waiting rooms

furniture in social areas in senior housing (independent or assisted living for seniors)

others, which ones?

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* 7. What type of public space do you prefer most?

closed one (e.g. shopping centers, bus / train stations, museums,theaters, etc.)

open (e.g. estates, parks, promenades)

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* 8. Is, in your opinion, furniture in public spaces adapted to the needs of older persons?

Yes

I do not know

If yes, how? If no, why not?

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* 9. Estimate how often You use public space and its furniture for following purposes?

	most often	often	seldom	don’t use at all
in order to socialize (meet with friends and family)	in order to socialize (meet with friends and family) most often	in order to socialize (meet with friends and family) often	in order to socialize (meet with friends and family) seldom	in order to socialize (meet with friends and family) don’t use at all
while waiting for someone or something	while waiting for someone or something most often	while waiting for someone or something often	while waiting for someone or something seldom	while waiting for someone or something don’t use at all
while taking care of others such as grandchildren	while taking care of others such as grandchildren most often	while taking care of others such as grandchildren often	while taking care of others such as grandchildren seldom	while taking care of others such as grandchildren don’t use at all
in order to rest - when I am tired	in order to rest - when I am tired most often	in order to rest - when I am tired often	in order to rest - when I am tired seldom	in order to rest - when I am tired don’t use at all
in order to relax while being in public space	in order to relax while being in public space most often	in order to relax while being in public space often	in order to relax while being in public space seldom	in order to relax while being in public space don’t use at all
in order to spend time outside my home	in order to spend time outside my home most often	in order to spend time outside my home often	in order to spend time outside my home seldom	in order to spend time outside my home don’t use at all

others, which ones?

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* 10. How often do you use furniture in public spaces?

every time I use an indoor public space

every time I use an outdoor public space

only occasionally

I do not use furniture in public spaces

If only occasionally: When? If never: Why?

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* 11. Who most often accompanies you when using furniture in public space?

no one, I usually use public space alone

husband / wife / partner

family - children, grandchildren

friends / neighbors

members in associations

How many friends / neighbors/ colleagues or family members usually accompany you when using furniture in public space? (please enter a number)

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* 12. How important is it that furniture is sustainable (safe for the environment)?

important

I don’t have opinion about it

not important at all

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* 13. Should the furniture in the public space be made of materials being reusable/ recyclable?

yes

I don´t know

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* 14. What would make you use the public area more?

better access (transport) from my home to public spaces

free, easy to use assistive devices in public spaces (walker, wheelchair, cane etc.)

If I could get someone with me to public areas

If there would be more information about public areas available

others?

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* 15. What weaknesses does furniture in the public spaces have?

	outdoor public space	indoor public space
They are uncomfortable	They are uncomfortable outdoor public space	They are uncomfortable indoor public space
They are not adapted to the needs of seniors	They are not adapted to the needs of seniors outdoor public space	They are not adapted to the needs of seniors indoor public space
They have inappropriate dimensions (too low, too high, too narrow)	They have inappropriate dimensions (too low, too high, too narrow) outdoor public space	They have inappropriate dimensions (too low, too high, too narrow) indoor public space
There are not enough of them	There are not enough of them outdoor public space	There are not enough of them indoor public space
They are neglected, damaged	They are neglected, damaged outdoor public space	They are neglected, damaged indoor public space
They have no backs, armrests, supports etc.	They have no backs, armrests, supports etc. outdoor public space	They have no backs, armrests, supports etc. indoor public space
They are difficult to use, e.g. get up or sit down (in the case of seats)	They are difficult to use, e.g. get up or sit down (in the case of seats) outdoor public space	They are difficult to use, e.g. get up or sit down (in the case of seats) indoor public space
They are located too far away from each other	They are located too far away from each other outdoor public space	They are located too far away from each other indoor public space
They are located too far away from my place of living	They are located too far away from my place of living outdoor public space	They are located too far away from my place of living indoor public space
None, they are well designed	None, they are well designed outdoor public space	None, they are well designed indoor public space

Other defects, which ones? Comments on your answers?

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* 16. What problems do you face while using furniture, other equipment and facilities in public spaces? (please select a maximum of 3 answers)

I’m afraid to sit as they are dirty/damaged

I’m afraid to sit alone as someone dangerous may sit down next to me

I’m afraid that someone will bump into me

I’m afraid to fall down

my cane falls down when using furniture since there is no place to put it

I have problems standing up, sitting down

I have problems reading information and signs

I have problems hearing people sitting not directly next to me

I would like to be more active when being outdoor but there are no elements of environment that are adjusted to my needs

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* 17. Please describe your dream furniture for public spaces (both outdoor and indoor)? How would it look and what function/s is/are required to meet your needs? If you could change something regarding existing public furniture, what would that be?

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* 18. What activities would you like to be able to perform while using indoor seating furniture for example in the waiting room?

listen to the radio / music

perform small manual, artistic works, knitting, etc.

watch TV

use a tablet borrowed free of charge on site

perform gentle physical exercises while sitting

solve crosswords

relax through elements in interior design

other activities?

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* 19. Do you read newspapers / leaflets / books, etc. while waiting in the waiting room?

Yes

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* 20. only if you have ticked question 19 with no: Why don't you read newspapers / brochures / books, etc. while waiting in the waiting room?

I can't focus

the lighting is not adapted for reading

there is nothing interesting to read for me

others, which ones?

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* 21. Have you ever been in the indoor public space that was very comfortable for you?

Yes

If yes, please describe the characteristics of this space and furniture?

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* 22. Have you ever been in the outdoor public space that was very comfortable for you?

Yes

If yes, please describe the characteristics of this space and furniture?

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* 23. With whom do you share your household?

I live alone

with a partner (husband/wife)

with family/ children/ grandchildren

others, who?

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* 24. Where do you live?

in my own ordinary household / home

in an independent living facility for seniors

in an assisted living facility

others, what?

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* 25. Do you live in...? (Please tick only the appropriate box)

	with balcony	without balcony	with garden	without garden
an apartment in the city/urban area	an apartment in the city/urban area with balcony	an apartment in the city/urban area without balcony	an apartment in the city/urban area with garden	an apartment in the city/urban area without garden
in an apartment in a rural area	in an apartment in a rural area with balcony	in an apartment in a rural area without balcony	in an apartment in a rural area with garden	in an apartment in a rural area without garden
in your own house in the city/urban are	in your own house in the city/urban are with balcony	in your own house in the city/urban are without balcony	in your own house in the city/urban are with garden	in your own house in the city/urban are without garden
in your own house in a rural area	in your own house in a rural area with balcony	in your own house in a rural area without balcony	in your own house in a rural area with garden	in your own house in a rural area without garden