Also discussed here: Age friendliness -- sounds good, where is it? (Laurie Orlov , Aging in Place Technology, Jan. 14, 2012)
And here: Aging in Place:A State Survey of Livability Policies and Practices (84 page pdf, Nicholas Farber, JD, and Douglas Shinkle, National Conference of State Legislatures and the AARP Public Policy Institute, Dec. 2011)
And here: Forget the Sunbelt: Colder Areas Top New List of Best Cities for Seniors (US News, Sep. 29, 2011)
The fastest growing part of our population and for many cities the most vulnerable are our seniors- and many cities are not taking steps to ensure they are both safe and healthy and have access to municipal transportation systems. Today’s review of several articles on this topic points out some of the transportation challenges and solutions without getting into social housing and land use policies which also have large impacts on quality of life for seniors.
Key Quotes:
“In the next 20 years, the number of adults age 65 and older will nearly double in the United States. Many of these people will reject high-priced institutional care and, instead, will continue to live in the community, even if they have one or more disabilities. The degree to which they can participate in community life will be determined, in part, by how well their physical environment accommodates them and the level of services provided”
“Scattered, low-density development coupled with disconnected road networks increase auto dependency and the mobility challenges faced by nondrivers”
"Of Americans over age 65, 21 percent do not drive..This reduced mobility has a direct and often debilitating effect on older Americans' independence. More than 50 percent of non-drivers over age 65 normally do not leave home most days, partly because of a lack of transportation options."
“Although adults age 65 and older comprised less than 13 percent of the population in 2008, they were involved in 15 percent of vehicle fatalities and 19 percent of pedestrian fatalities. An older vehicle occupant is 18 percent more likely to die in a crash than someone under age 65. A more staggering statistic reveals that an older pedestrian is 61 percent more likely to die when hit by a motor vehicle than a younger one”
“why are so many 'aging in place? Because they can’t sell their houses -- and when they do, it is later and later – the average move-in age for assisted living is 86, the average price for assisted living is > $39K per year”
Related articles
- Great Ideas for Senior-Friendly Communities (money.usnews.com)
- NCSL: Aging in Place: A State Survey of Livability Policies and Practices (bespacific.com)
- AASHTO's Vision of Safe Streets for Seniors: Bigger Type on Highway Signs (dc.streetsblog.org)
- What Is a Complete Street? (aarp.org)
- Lawmakers Aim to Make Roads Safer by Improving Signs (news.onlineautoinsurance.com)
- Traffic fatalities among older drivers remain disproportionately high; as baby boomers begin to turn 65, U.S. Transportation System Insufficient to Meet Their Growing Mobility and Safety Needs (fulltextreports.com)
- Wider, Straighter, and Faster Roads Aren't the Solution for Older Drivers (dc.streetsblog.org)
- Seniors May Not Be Such a High Risk to Auto Insurance Companies (news.onlineautoinsurance.com)
- "Villages to Age in Place" - We Need Community! (cohousingblog.com)
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