Opinion – Claudio Bernardes: Planning age-friendly cities

Population aging is one of the most important demographic trends and, in addition to transforming urban economies and societies around the world, it must change the relationship between the development and operation of cities with the increase in the elderly population.

Depending on how this issue is handled, instead of bringing positive dividends, longevity can become an issue for rulers.

It is desirable for people to age active and healthy, and creating the conditions for this to occur in cities is not simply a matter of health or care for the elderly. It requires considering aging to the fullest extent and in all policies, services, urban environments and city structures.

The global scale of this problem was defined in numbers by the UN (United Nations) in 2020. By the end of this decade, the number of people aged 60 and over will be 34% higher than in 2020, reaching the mark of 1, 4 billion. By 2050, the global elderly population will have more than doubled, and there will be twice as many people over 60 as children under 5.

The number of people over the age of 60 will increase faster in developing countries, from 652 million in 2017 to 1.7 billion in 2050, while developed countries will experience an increase from 310 million people to 427 million.

The number of older people is growing most rapidly in Africa, followed by Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia. UN projections indicate that almost 80% of the world’s elderly population will live in least developed countries by 2050.

Preparing cities for the elderly is a critical and urgent challenge. There is a need to consider age-friendly environments that incorporate both physical and socio-political dimensions and the interrelationship between these two aspects. Thus, they should be included in the proposed conceptualization of physical domains, such as housing, transport and mobility, and outdoor public spaces, as well as sociopolitical aspects, which involve political and civic participation, social networks, digital inclusion, respect and recognition. .

Professor Rebecca Chiu of the University of Hong Kong examined the implications of the compact city on the mental well-being of older residents. It demonstrates that urban compactness offers a more intensive network and wider range of community services and retail facilities.

The economy of scale, driven by greater population concentration, makes services more spatially accessible, financially viable and administratively justifiable. These aspects, although positive for the well-being of the elderly, with improved cognitive capacity, depend on the accessibility to facilities and services in the neighborhood, as well as local conditions, such as the existence of elevators and ramps necessary to facilitate mobility.

Researchers at the Faculty of Engineering for the Built Environment in Queensland, Australia, have linked the integration of green infrastructure and accessibility to reducing heat stress in older adults and increasing longevity.

The fact is that many scientists have dedicated themselves to understanding this complex topic and, without a doubt, planning cities considering aging will imply going through the human and applied sciences, as well as diving into the biological sciences in search of clues for a more holistic appreciation of the realities. of the experiences of the elderly.

Their stories, everyday rhythms, challenges, concerns and desires matter, just as these stories intersect with potential health implications and community involvement. The research, policy and practice of aging planning can then be the opportunity and the catalyst to promote a fairer city and a more humane urbanism.