THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN OLDER AGES

The role of unsupportive environments as a barrier for active life style and social participation has been noted. We investigated the effects of environmental press and ageing in place, as indicators of environmental support, on social exclusion with data from 3 waves of UKHLS. Environmental press was operationalised with three characteristics: the neighbourhood: disruptions, problems and insecurities. Ageing in place was operationalised as the length of residence in the neighbourhood and whether the participant would stay in the same neighbourhood. Social exclusion was measured using a social exclusion index (SEI). Neighbourhood problems (0.657, 95%CI 0.279, 1.036) and disruptions (1.988, 95%CI 1.569, 2.407) increased social exclusion significantly while being a stayer reduced social exclusion significantly (-0.502, 95% CI-0.664, -0.341). There were no differences between men and women in these results. Policies that will improve neighbourhood quality and make places age-friendly can reduce social exclusion.