Age-Friendly Cities Create Positive Outcomes

Research in the late 1990s showed that the needs of seniors were changing.  Seniors were demanding more choices and amenities, becoming more active and living longer, with a greater focus on wellness.  In response to these changes, there is a new building trend toward integrating neighborhoods into age-friendly cities. 
The goal is to have a variety of services available, such as health, recreational and shopping, so that many different lifestyles can be accommodated. The World Health Organization (WHO) believes this will help the elderly to have a high quality and independent life.

This will be accomplished by instituting the following:

• Maintaining pleasant and safe outdoor spaces
• Having sufficient, affordable public transportation
• Having housing located close to services
• Offering diverse, affordable activities which are easily found
• Recognizing the elderly for their contributions to the community
• Increasing community participation and training availability for post-retirement people
• Having better communication with large-print information in familiar language
• Better accessibility to health and social services

Strategic planning includes mixing public and social services within housing communities to support age-friendly cities.   The continued desire is to link public transportation and reduce travel distances while increasing foot and bicycle traffic for pedestrian uses.

Successful transition to a retirement community is created with strong social ties.  CCRCs, or Continuing Care Retirement Communities, provide supportive networks among residents.  Clusters of homes share walking paths, gardens, clubhouses, health clubs, and the like, reinforcing the sense of community. This is a positive approach to help the elderly to feel more attached.

There are many design options to choose in promoting the physical and emotional wellness of the aging population.  For those who are able, aging-in-place design is the best of both worlds, allowing seniors to remain in the comfort of their own homes independent of assisted living facilities.  This is possible by implementing modifications within the home which will last for years to come.