How do we make our built environment, at every scale, a tool for disease prevention and the promotion of wellness for all? 

Societies across the globe are in the midst of long-term growth in the older adult population. Yet the homes and communities where we live do not even meet current lifespan needs, as they were mostly designed for young, typically abled people. And disparities in the built environment often lead low-income and minority communities to struggle to attain basic health, safety and wellbeing.

As we begin to build and renovate our homes and communities in a post-COVID-19 world, we must accelerate the application of an age-friendly framework that addresses disparities. This means housing and communities everywhere that are safe, affordable, and facilitate multigenerational interaction; meet sensory, emotional, physical, social, behavioral, and health needs across the lifespan; and include appropriate transportation options—enabling every resident to thrive. 

AARP is hosting this dialogue series of online events from September 2020 to February 2021, featuring built environment leaders from the U.S. and across the globe. Dr. Bill Thomas will moderate conversations with these experts, who will share diverse perspectives on what it will take to create enabling and equitable housing and multigenerational communities

The Equity by Design series is for policymakers, planners, designers and architects, developers, financiers, academic and real estate professionals, age-friendly community advocates, and other colleagues interested in making our built environment a tool to support everyone at every stage across increasingly long lifespans.


 Resource Link


Published: 9-26-2020