Bill Tomas, M.D., who writes the blog ChangingAging.org, points out the need to revamp suburbs for baby boomers as they grow older.
Suburbs are bad for older people because they’re creatures of the car. To the extent that older people are forced to depend on cars for transportation, their mobility and independence are at risk, Thomas said.
The Wall Street Journal article “Making Suburbia More Livable” offers several examples of communities that are redesigning suburbs so that boomers can age in place.
These communities are:
- Making new street grids to reduce traffic and improve walkability.
- Building town homes and condominiums.
- Adding greenways and parks to promote social interaction.
- Adding social spaces, shops, transportation options, and recreation and entertainment facilities to help address the needs of people as they grow older.
The nation’s sprawling suburbs – home to about half of the U.S. population and more than 30 million people age 55-plus – are proving to be a tough place to grow older, according to the journal article.
Most people don’t want to move from their homes. An AARP survey showed that 85 percent of people 50-plus want to stay in their communities for as long as possible.
It’s good news that the Seattle City Council has adopted the city’s pedestrian master plan.
The objectives of the plan are to:
- Complete and maintain the pedestrian system identified in the Pedestrian Master Plan.
- Improve walkability on all streets.
- Increase pedestrian safety.
- Plan, design, and build complete streets to move more people and goods.
- Create vibrant public spaces that encourage walking.
- Get more people walking for transportation, recreation, and health.
Carrying out these policies will help people as they grow older to stay in their own homes.
See the city’s Pedestrian Master Plan for details.
For more information for boomer consumers, see my blog The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide.