How do unfamiliar environments convey meaning to older people? Urban dimensions of placelessness and attachment

"Attachment to place" within the gerontological literature is associated with long time periods of exposure to a place and has significantly contributed to how we give meaning to the spaces inhabited and used by older people. We also define ‘‘place’’ in this study on a macro scale - a city or town, rather than in micro terms of accommodation or home. A further concept introduced here is that of placelessness, where a place conveys no sense of identity, emotion or attachment. This article reviews the conceptual frameworks underpinning the two broad concepts: first of place attachment that is biological, social, psychological and the concept of familiarity with place; and secondly the experience of unfamiliar place and placelessness which may be experienced for both short and long periods of time, e.g. through experiencing the re-development or regeneration of ‘‘home’’ community or town or city. Against this background this article looks at ‘place attachment in later life’ and the concept of familiarity before turning its attention to the varied experiences of ‘unfamiliar environments’ and ‘placelessness’.