Iranian Journal of Ergonomics

Background and Objectives: The use of parks is very valuable for the elderly for various reasons such as physical, psychological and social aspects. Therefore, The suitability of these spaces to the needs of the elderly is of particular importance. The purpose of this study was to determine and introduce criteria for evaluating and classifying parks in terms of structural suitability for the elderly.
Methods: This methodological study was designed in 1403 and was conducted simultaneously with the psychometric and validation of the structural fit assessment tool for the elderly-friendly park. The structural components were determined through a literature review and item validation using the Delphi method. After determining content validity, the items were classified into mandatory, essential, and ideal sections by obtaining at least two-thirds and one-third of the experts' votes, respectively, and descriptive statistics were used in data processing.
Results: The final review of 58 items by experts showed that the majority of items (41 items, equivalent to 71%) were mandatory, 13 items (22%) were essential, and 4 items were ideal. The highest share of mandatory items was declared by ergonomists and the lowest by gerontologists.
Conclusion: Structural components of park design appropriate to the characteristics of the elderly are mandatory or essential in most of the cases studied, and only a few of them were identified as ideal. Therefore, the design of elderly-friendly parks requires attention to various aspects, including accessibility, safety, and comfort.