Walk this Way - Designing Communities For the Elderly

This past Saturday afternoon found me waiting at a stop sign at the end of my street for a bit longer than I would have liked. I was attempting to make a left hand turn onto a busy road, but I wasn't the only one waiting to get to my destination. Across the street to my right, an elderly lady, having just finished a grocery store run, was waiting to cross the same busy street at a pedestrian crosswalk.

Cars were flying by in both directions, and she was patiently waiting until the roadway was clear. Unfortunately, she was waiting longer than me; I made my left turn and continued down the street as her reflection got smaller and smaller in my rear-view mirror.

This got me to thinking, which is always a dangerous thing. But, having had a grandfather live his last days in a cold nursing home and with my grandmother currently living with my parents, I began to wonder if there's not a better way to create communities for the elderly--one which doesn't involve playing a deathly game of Frogger just to get a gallon of milk.

Senior living centers are certainly one way to avoid dodging Dodges, but is there a better way to make the neighborhoods and communities easier to navigate for those not used to the fast-paced, breakneck speeds of our modern society?

Comfortable and Easy

I certainly hope so, and not just for my own future: beginning next year, the population of those 65 and older will continue to grow faster than the total population of each state, and, within a mere twenty years, may overtake all other age demographics across the country.

Realty Times has an article today that discusses what kind of homes aging baby boomers want (hint: comfortable and easy). Shouldn't they also want a neighborhood to match?

"I Wish They'd Bring Back the Streetcars"

I too walk to the same grocery store as my elderly neighbor and I too have been subject to waiting and waiting and waiting while at the same crosswalk. Once, when standing next to her, I mentioned how annoying it was having to dodge traffic just to get a loaf of bread.

"I wish they'd bring back the streetcars," was what she told me, herself obviously annoyed too at what used to be a very walkable neighborhood. Luckily, more and more cities are looking into bringing streetcars back, including Cincinnati.

And I hope it happens. After all, when I'm 80 years old, I don't want to have to worry about getting hit by a flying car. I'll have enough to worry about as it is.

dotloop.com