AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

Gil Penalosa, founder and chair of the Toronto-based planning non-profit 8 80 Cities, said senior citizens benefit from not being isolated, but the community benefits as well.

 

He pointed to the huge amount of retired doctors and nurses who responded by volunteering to help overtaxed hospital staff responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There are studies that show that when (senior citizens) lose their driving privileges, it is as traumatic as a cancer diagnosis.

Because in so many cities, the car is the only way to be mobile and make a doctor’s appointment or grocery run,” he said.

“In walkable cities with transit, losing a car doesn’t mean losing your friends, your stores, your places you’ve gone all your life.”