Reconceptualizing Neighborhood and Community Third Places: Older Adults' Views Through Virtual Photovoice

Neighborhoods and communities can offer third places, places outside of older adults' individual homes or workplaces, that are meaningful to them. Although literature may describe these places, seeing them as photos from the viewpoint of older adults is often absent. The goal is to understand the role and function of neighborhood and community sites as third places in the older adults' lives, as portrayed through their own words and images.

A phenomenographic approach was used with older adults to analyze photovoice-based and narrative data from a virtual photovoice study about the meaning of home for 14 older adults, from October 2022 to May 2023, in Baltimore, Maryland. As part of this study, after IRB consent and photovoice protocol review, older adults took up to 10 photos on their smartphones. Each participant then interpreted and shared the meaning of home, neighborhood and community shown in the photos-thus constructing their personal meaning of third place.

Four main sets of places that older adults discuss and conceptualize as third places through conversations about their photos. The concept of third places was expressed both traditionally and in novel ways through discussions and images around: (a) A community of walkable neighborhood stores and restaurants; (b) age-based community-based activity spaces; (c) larger neighborhood community: Spiritual community and faith-based spaces, and (d) parks and nature.

These photo-interpreted third places offer additional ways to create a sense of familiarity, social connectedness, and wellbeing while experiencing one's social world in built and natural environments.