This trend is driven by a number of sociological and demographic changes. First, the good news is that increasing life expectancy is one of the main reasons forinstagram database population ageing. Birth rates are also declining, as many people decide to have families later or not at all. These demographic changes will inevitably change the way cities are used, as different ages demand different things.
For example, older adults are less likely to drive and walk more slowly than younger people. Therefore, urban planners need to take into account factors such as the time that pedestrian crossing signals allow people to cross the street.
One potentially important change on the horizon is the type of residences that older adults choose to live in. In the U.S. and some other areas of the world, retirement communities are a common phenomenon. In these enclaves, seniors essentially live in their own towns, sometimes even with golf courses and a variety of restaurants. But this way of living not only separates seniors from the rest of society, but most of them say it is not how they want to live.
In study after study, this population expresses a desire to age within their own communities and in their own homes. However, because older adults who are retiring or have fewer job opportunities have more limited incomes to live on, affordable housing is incredibly important, and a lack of it could disproportionately harm the elderly. In Los Angeles alone, there are an estimated 200,000 older adults at risk of homelessness.
Since disability is correlated with age, improving accessibility in cities is paramount to accommodate an older demographic. Many urban homes are not equipped with necessary features, including single-story homes with no steps or wheelchair ramps. Other features of the home should also be easily accessible. For example, showers should not have curbs that make falls more likely, and lever-style doorknobs that do not require squeezing are things to consider when building accessible homes.
Public transport can also be improved to meet the needs of older adults. By adding more stops, the walking distance required to access transport can be reduced. Ultimately, many of the improvements needed to make cities age-friendly can help everyone, not just the oldest in society, with more accessible transport and more green spaces. The physical environment in which people live is an important social determinant of health, and improving this environment is an opportunity to boost the health and well-being of all.
