At a recent meeting for Leadership Texas, 2012, Henry Cisneros, former secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and Jane Hickie, JD, senior research scholar at Stanford University, led a discussion regarding the implications of aging in our society. Based on a book they co-authored, “Independent for Life: Homes and Neighborhoods for an Aging America,” they discussed the implications of an aging population and promoted that “aging in place” is the likely and preferred direction for much of this population due to cost and cultural bias against nursing facilities. The impact on urban planning and housing is great:
- Housing requires development, beginning with “right-sized” housing for aging singles or couples, without physical barriers.
- Housing should minimize cost of maintenance and utilities making alternative energy sources (solar and wind), along with energy efficient construction, critical in sustaining an affordable lifestyle.
- Housing locations must be considered so the elderly can easily socialize and easily access services, such as shopping and healthcare, by foot. A trend emerging from the affordable-living movement is a “non-currency” exchange of services by individuals—one person might trade driving for cooking.
- Technology will play an increasingly important role in assuring we can age in place. People can socialize through the internet, secure services and support, and remain informed. This means not only hardware and software but also the ability to train elderly on the continuing evolution of technological supports.
With the tremendous growth of our senior population, solutions for the above-mentioned impacts, and others, will continue to shape our communities and buildings. It’s clear that housing for the aging population needs to be considered within the larger context of urban planning and the impact on our communities is tremendous. As the boom of the senior community continues to grow, creating appropriate housing is an immediate issue.
