De-Siloing Age-Friendly Planning Solutions

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• How the factors motivating planners around the world to respond to the needs of an aging population can impact your planning work
• How to obtain tools and resources that planners need in order to successfully advocate for and engage in this work
• Best practices in planning for aging that may be transferable across geo-political contexts

MORE SESSION DETAILS

Planners, who envision the form of future growth of communities, must increasingly shift their approach to planning to address a very rapidly changing demographic context in their communities. In the United States, nearly 20 percent of the population will be over age 65 by 2030 — the fastest-growing demographic being 85 and older. And AARP surveys show that almost 90 percent want to age in their homes or communities. Yet, current data and population projections highlight the challenges that this demographic change pose and the fundamental shift in planning needed to minimize the social, economic, and health impacts that will otherwise overwhelm communities. Countries around the world have similar concerns, but European countries are approximately five years ahead of the United States aging curve and are already working to make the built environment, housing, transportation, and other services appropriate and accessible for aging citizens. Because planning systems are so varied — and planners face different challenges in different countries — we must elicit information that is transferable (like strategies/programs that do not require government intervention and private-sector development). Learn why the focus should be on approaches and interventions achievable for planners, recognizing that methods may vary among planning organizations.