'Population and Urbanisation: developing age-friendly cities' CHRIS PHILLIPSON KEELE UNIVERSITY

Age-Friendly Cities  Background to AFCs  Why the debate on AFCs?  What should AFCs do?  What is the case for AFCs?  What is the strategy for developing AFCs?  Key policy and research questions?  Future research 2

3

4

Background to AFCs Concept developed by World Health Organization: policy to develop supportive urban environments, defined as encouraging: ‘active ageing by optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age’ (WHO, 2007)

Background to AFCs 2006 ‘Global Age-friendly cities project’ – to identify factors which make urban environments ‘age-friendly’ Launch of ‘Global Network of Age- Friendly Cities st International Conference on Age- Friendly Cities (Dublin)

Why the Debate on Age-friendly Cities? Demographic Drivers:  2030 Two-thirds of the world’s population living in cities. One-quarter of urban populations in high income countries 60 and over.  2050 One-quarter of urban populations in less developed countries 60 and over. 8

Why the Debate on Age-friendly Cities? Policy Drivers: Sustainable Cities’  ‘Sustainable Cities’ How can urban development be managed to meet the needs of current and future generations? Harmonious Cities’  ‘Harmonious Cities’ (UN-Habitat) How can we achieve social justice and fairness in the city?  Lifetime homes and neighbourhoods.  Lifetime homes and neighbourhoods. How can we best support (where appropriate) ‘ageing in place’? 9

Why the Debate on Age-friendly Cities? Urban drivers:  Development of ‘world’ or global cities with commanding economic and political influence.  Emergence of ‘shrinking’/’distressed’ cities  Cities characterised by extremes of wealth and poverty (Burdett and Sudjic, 2011).  Inequality between cities of different sizes and economic specializations (Davis, 2006)  Importance of rural-urban migration influencing age-structure of cities (e.g. Mumbai, Shangai, Mexico City). 10

What should age-friendly environments do?  Age-friendly environments should create connections between people and the environment in which they live. (Keating et al. forthcoming).  A key task in the building of AFCs is to identify ‘leverage points’ that need to be acted upon to achieve effective connections between different groups. 11

The Case for Age-Friendly Cities? Challenges in urban areas (1):  80% of the time of people aged over 70 is spent at home; hence the importance of a high quality physical environment (Horgas et al., 1998).  Contrast between ageing in place and highly mobile populations. London reaching point where less than half of the city’s population will have lived there for 20 years. In contrast, nearly 1 in 2 older people will have lived in their neighbourhood for 40 years or more (Scharf et al., 2002).  Fear of Crime/Feelings of insecurity may limit participation in ‘normal daily life’: 33% -50% of older people may feel unsafe moving around their neighbourhood at night (BCS; De Donder et al., 2010) 12

The Case for Age-Friendly Cities? Challenges in urban areas (2)  ‘Dead cities’ and the loss of traditional central activities and functions (Davis, 2002)  Neighbourhoods with poor physical environments and limited access to services may increase feelings of insecurity and vulnerablility (Belgian Ageing Survey)  ‘Institutional Disengagement’ may contribute to social exclusion. (Scharf et al., 2002)  Extreme weather conditions and impact on older people in urban areas (Klinenburg, 2002; Ogg, 2005; Muramatsu and Akiyama, 2011). 13

The Case for Age-Friendly Cities? Build on benefits of urban areas (1) Build on benefits of urban areas (1):  Infrastructure of public facilities – ‘public affluence’ versus ‘privatized consumerism’ (Davis, 2002)  Specialist resources for minority groups – may be of particular importance in old age (Buffel et al., 2011).  Broader range of social networks – importance of strangers & neighbours as well as friends and family (Gardner, 2011)  Innovation in cities e.g. smart city movement –use of apps from mobile phones (Ratti and Townsend, 2011) 14

The Case for Age-Friendly Cities? Build on benefits of urban areas (2)  Creativity of Cities: ‘cities as places of culture and creativity, of conviviality and sedentary living’ (Giradet, 1999).  Access to Amenities and Services: Research suggests ‘higher levels of social and cultural participation for those with access to facilities such as corner shops, libraries and parks’ (Richard et al. 2008). 15

Building a Strategy for Developing Age- Friendly Cities  Developing responses to the diversity of cities.  Developing ‘rights to the city’ which reflect changing needs across the life course.  Developing strategies for ‘creating space’ within cities.  Developing strategies targeting different groups within urban neighbourhoods. 16

Developing Responses to the Diversity of Cities  Shrinking urban populations in many high-income countries.  Expanding ‘Arrival’ cities driven by rural-urban migration (Saunders, 2011).  Development of mega-cities (20 million plus population) and urban corridors.  Smaller European cities contrasted with, for example, larger US counterparts.  ‘Slum cities’ clustered on periphery of capital cities (Burdett and Sudjic, 2011).  Growth of second-tier cities with little or no planning (especially characteristic in Asian context) (Davis, 2006) 17

Developing Rights to the City Cities viewed as drivers of nation’s economic and cultural success but often to the detriment of those outside the labour market. Ensuring full rights of older people as ‘urban citizens’ essential to achieving an age-friendly city including: the ‘right’ to appropriate and supportive urban space the ‘right’ to participate in decision-making surrounding the production of urban space the ‘right’ to shape strategies for urban planning and regeneration 18

Developing strategies for ‘creating space’ within cities ‘Defensible space’ – Extending control over personal space into communal areas (Newman, 1972). ‘Street space’ – Developing ‘streets for life’ concept to reflect changing needs across the life course (Burton & Mitchell, 2006) ‘Third spaces’ – generic term for public space that supports regular, voluntary and informal gatherings (Oldenburg, 1999) 19

Developing Strategies Targeting Different Groups within Urban Neighbourhoods.  Distinctive issues for minority ethnic groups (e.g. racism on the streets; specialist services).  Gender issues – contrasts between male and female experiences of urban space and safety in urban areas (Tonkiss, 2005).  Problem facing long-term residents in neighbourhoods with high levels of social and economic deprivation.  Importance of addressing needs of people with dementia who greatly benefit from stimulating external environments. (Mitchell and Burton, 2006) 20

Building Connections ‘Arrival’ ‘Industrial’ ‘Consumer’ ‘End of Life’ Active Citizens Political Elites Developers Access Facilities Transport Cities OwnershipDesign 21

What are the Key Policy Questions for AFCs to Address? 1. Cities are viewed as key drivers for economic success – ‘the urban renaissance’ – but can they integrate ageing populations as well? 2. Can the resources of the city be used to improve quality of life in old age – only 1 in 20 older households may have the money to take advantage of what great cities have to offer. 3. Can cities be designed in the interests of all age groups? 22

4. Investigate new ways of securing participation of older people in regeneration and planning. 5. New approaches to bringing together urban designers, developers, architects with older people to assess accessibility of built environment location and accessibility of services development of secure public space 23 What are the Key Policy Questions for AFCs to Address?

Future Research Development of Research Network involving 5 European countries: ESRC plus matched funding. Grant proposal with different work packages Publication in Critical Social Policy

UN/Habitat 2010 ‘Cities are…vehicles for social change: places where new values, beliefs and ideas can forge a new type of growth that promotes rights and opportunities for all members of society….the concept of an ‘inclusive’ city, or a ‘city for all’, encompasses the social and economic benefits of greater equality, promoting positive outcomes for each and every individual in society’. 25

Selected Sources Brown, S. et al. ‘The relationship of built environment to perceived social support and psychological distress in Hispanic elders’, Journal of Gerontology, 64b. Buffel T. and Phillipson C. (forthcoming). Constraints and opportunities of urban environments: Experiences of place among older migrants living in inner-city neighbourhoods in Belgium and England. Diversité Urbaine (forthcoming). Buffel, T. et al. Ageing in Urban Environments: Developing Age Friendly Cities. Critical Social Policy (forthcoming) Burton, E & Mitchell, L Inclusive Urban Design, Architectural Press, Davis, M. Dead Cities. Verso Books, Harvey, D. ‘The capitalist city’. New Left Review, Bonvalet, C. and Ogg, J. Baby Boomers. Bardwell Books, 2011 Rowles, G. Prisoners of Space? Westview, 1978

Selected Sources Burdett, R. and Sudjic, D. (eds) The Endless City, Phaidon, 2008 Burdett, R. and Sudjic, D (eds) Living in the Endless City. Phaidon Oldenburg, R. The Great Good Place Marlowe & Co., 1999 Phillipson, C (2010) ‘Growing old in the Century of the City’. In Dannefer, D. and Phillipson, C. (eds) The Sage Handbook of Social Gerontology. London: Sage. Smith, A. Ageing in urban neighbourhoods, Policy Press, 2009 UN-Habitat State of the World’s Cities 2010/2011, 2010.