Pontevedra: An Age-Friendly City?

A Qualitative Analysis Grounded in Nursing’s Scientific Methodology

Abstract

Title: Pontevedra: An Age-Friendly City? A Qualitative Analysis Grounded in the Scientific Methodology of Nursing.

Objective: To assess, through key informants’ perceptions, whether Pontevedra aligns with the Age-Friendly City model proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), identifying needs perceived by older adults and translating them into nursing taxonomy.

Design: Qualitative study based on Participatory Action Research (PAR).

Site: City of Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain.

Measurements/Method: The study was grounded in the Nursing Process (PAE), a scientific methodology specific to the nursing discipline, structured in five phases. The assessment phase was conducted through a focus group with older residents. From discourse analysis, needs related to the physical, social, and informational environment were identified, interpreted, and categorized according to the WHO’s Age-Friendly Cities framework. These were subsequently translated into nursing taxonomic language (NANDA-I, NIC, and NOC).

Results: Pontevedra presents a profile largely consistent with the Age-Friendly City model, showing significant progress in accessibility and citizen participation. However, gaps remain in public services, housing, and community support.

Conclusions: Findings suggest that Pontevedra approaches the criteria of an Age-Friendly City, although several areas require improvement. The application of the Nursing Process enabled a structured analysis of community health and its translation into the professional language of nursing, providing a useful foundation for planning context-specific interventions.