Overcoming Barriers to Livability for All Ages: Inclusivity Is the Key

Xue Zhang,Mildred E Warner,Stephanie Firestone

doi:10.17645/up.v4i2.1892

Abstract

The rapid pace of population aging in cities around the world demands that planners design communities that are livable for people of all ages and abilities. In 2017, to assess progress toward this end, AARP and the International Division of the American Planning Association conducted a global survey of planners on their efforts to incorporate a livable-communityfor-all-ages approach into their work. The survey of 559 planners measured motivators, barriers, strategies for engagement and practices facilitating planners’ work on livable communities for all ages (LCA). Using the international survey, we analyze factors driving local governments’ actions to advance LCA, and factors driving outcomes incorporating a livablecommunity-for-all-ages approach in planning practices. We show how these differ between the US and non-US respondents, including how US suburbs and rural areas lag in actions toward LCA. Regression results show that local motivations such as awareness of substantial growth in older populations is a primary factor motivating local governments to take more actions. While physical design is a critical part of the solution, we find that facilitating practices and community engagement in the process are key to advancing planning for age-friendly communities. Additionally, communities that practice more traditional approaches to planning and have limited resources actually exhibit a higher level of LCA outcomes. This suggests that focusing on community engagement and facilitating practices could be a promising approach to incorporating an all age lens in planning practices.

Highlights

The world population is rapidly getting older because of lower fertility rates and longer lifespans
The idea behind a livablecommunity-for-all-ages approach has been spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and, in the US, by AARP and the American Planning Association (APA)
In this article we explore the factors that lead planners to advance actions toward livable communities for all ages (LCA) and the factors driving the outcomes of incorporating a livable-community-for-all-ages approach in planning practices at the local government level

Summary

Introduction

The world population is rapidly getting older because of lower fertility rates and longer lifespans. The increase in older populations in towns, suburbs and cities around the world highlights the need to make communities livable for people of all ages and abilities. A livable-community-for-allages approach involves planning to help “communities ensure appropriate physical infrastructures The first guidance in this space, the WHO’s guide to building global age-friendly cities, recognized the importance of optimizing the opportunity for health, participation, and security to increase the quality of life for older adults (WHO, 2002, 2007). In 2005, AARP’s report Livable Communities: Creating Environments for Aging emphasized the importance of affordable housing, supportive community services, and convenient mobility to meet the needs of older adults (Kochera, Straight, & Guterbock, 2005). UNICEF’s 2004 and its most recent 2018 guide for child-friendly cities emphasized actions consistent with a livable-community-for-all-ages approach. All three entities continue to refine and promulgate their guidance

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Conclusion