Spatial Accessibility Assessment of Homecare Workers to the Older Population in the City of Zurich

Abstract

Abstract. Access to homecare is paramount for the older population wishing not to move to retirement homes. In Zurich, the organization “Spitex Zürich” is the public homecare provider, allowing the older population to experience high-quality life at home through regular visits. A major factor for ensuring self-determined living for the older population consists of a detailed understanding of the spatial accessibility to Spitex locations. Therefore, this paper is concerned with applying four different FCA methods for assessing the spatial accessibility of Spitex homecare workers to people aged 65 + in Zurich through the road and bike networks. The modified-Huff-model-three-step-FCA method is found to be best suited for modeling potential spatial accessibility in Zurich. Spatial accessibility index values show similar geographical distributions regardless of transportation mode. The neighborhoods of Seebach and Hottingen are identified as regions with relatively low spatial accessibility. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the interpretation and the measurement of spatial accessibility, thereby facilitating autonomous living for the older population residing in Zurich, ultimately increasing the inclusiveness of the city.