Original challenge: How might we alleviate and counter problems with social isolation and loneliness among senior citizens? This question pertains not least to aspects beyond medical factors and conditions. It is important not only to look at primary care delivery but also consider social isolation from an individual perspective.
Challenge from: Stockholms stad
Redefined challenge: How might we connect seniors to opportunities for accessible and inclusive active aging?
Solution: Skärholmen Urban Social FarmConcept: Skärholmen Urban Social Farm aims to empower deprived communities in the area of Skärholmen through the means of urban agricultural practices. By enabling a community-led transformation of the urban landscape, the project allows marginalized communities to collaborate and co-create a more resilient and sustainable city together on their terms. This initiative aims to grow up to be a collective vision for a more inclusive, resilient, and vibrant neighbourhood, where individuals of all ages can come together to cultivate connections and relationships, nurture growth, and sow the seeds of change.
Team:
Issi Kokkalis Lindblad, Samwel Kimambo, Martha Brauer, Tanya Skipper, Priyanka Boga

Report abstract

In the beginning of this project, the project team were presented with the challenge “How might we alleviate and counter problems with social isolation and loneliness among the senior citizens in Skärholmen?”  To design a solution to this challenge a method called design thinking was used, where the team empathisized with the problem context, redefined the challenge, came up with five different ideas, prototyped the ideas, and tested them on a few selected stakeholders and available seniors.

Three target groups of seniors were identified, including seniors with immigrant background, seniors whom are involuntarily homeboud, and seniors who are facing challenges in finding purpose post-retirement. The challenge was eventually redefined as“How might we connect seniors to opportunities of accessible and inclusive active aging?”After testing several ideas to adress the challenge, the team ended up developing a community-driven urban gardening project. The purpose of the project is to empower the senior citizens in the area while also providing a platform for increased cooperation and interaction between different communities and organisations that are present in the area.

Emphasis remained on keeping the project community-led, resulting in an implementation plan for organizing a so called Urban Social Farm bottom up. The final solution highlights the need to create cooperative communities, forming personal relationships with the public and harvesting the experiences of our elders in inter-generational exchanges.