The world’s population is aging. In 2019, there were 703 million adults over age 65 worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) expects that number to increase to 1.5 billion by 2050. In the United States, people over age 64 will outnumber children under age 18 by 2034.
This increase coincides with the emergence of the concept of active aging. Rather than withdrawing from public life and spaces, older adults now remain active participants in social, economic, cultural, spiritual and civic affairs. Even after the isolation many experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, recent data shows that 77 percent of adults 50 and older want to remain in their homes – and communities – for the long term. But are our communities ready to accommodate them?
Eight domains of livability
To help identify and address barriers to the well-being and participation of older people in cities and communities, WHO identified eight interconnected domains of urban life. They include:
Outdoor spaces and buildings:
People need clean, secure green spaces and public gathering places that take age-friendly features into consideration.Transportation:
Access to affordable and reliable public transportation helps older adults remain active and engaged.Civic participation and employment:
Age-friendly communities provide opportunities for older people to contribute through paid employment or volunteering and keeps them engaged in the political process.Communication and information:
Older adults need to be able to stay connected to news and to receive information in timely and accessible formats.Respect and social inclusion:
Intergenerational interactions and social engagement can dispel negative preconceptions of aging and contribute to the self-esteem of older adults.Social participation:
Participation in leisure, social, cultural and spiritual activities encourages interactions with society and helps older adults stay engaged and informed.Health services and community supports:
Accessible and affordable community and health services are crucial in keeping older adults healthy, independent and active.Housing:
The housing conditions of older people are often linked to their quality of life and whether they can age independently and actively in their community.
Challenges impacting the eight domains
It’s no secret that American cities currently face many problems; the eight domains model provides a useful lens to look at the way these challenges impact the lives of active-aging seniors in these cities. And because the domains are intersectional, challenging conditions in one domain can impact several others.
One example is housing. A lack of adequate and affordable housing remains a crisis in many American cities. Older adults most often seek multiunit residential buildings, like accessory dwelling units, duplexes and townhouses. But available housing still tends to fall into one of two extremes: detached, single-family homes or large apartment buildings. Unfortunately, these options often aren’t transit-oriented or located within environments that encourage socializing and connection. A lack of adequate housing puts other domains in jeopardy, including access to health services, civic participation and social inclusion.
Another domain with far-reaching impact is transportation. A lack of reliable, easy-to-access public transportation can lead to greater isolation, especially for adults who no longer drive. Without transportation, people may forgo volunteering, part-time employment, civic participation, socializing and venturing to outdoor spaces. This isolation can lead to feelings of not belonging to community, loneliness, and not having a voice in civic affairs. And it’s already happening, and not just for older adults: in 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness and isolation to be an epidemic.
Opportunities to innovate for positive change
Fortunately, there’s a big upside to our collective aging. It’s driving many industries, organizations, and cities to innovate to accelerate positive changes that improve the eight domains.
In response to the inequities revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, many cities are adding affordable rental housing. Some are changing zoning laws to allow for more multiunit dwellings that fit into neighborhoods and eliminating restrictions on building accessory dwelling units.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is extending and enhancing independent living. It’s currently being used in socially assistive robots and other devices that can help with daily tasks, give medication reminders, or improve mobility and nutrition. AI algorithms can also analyze data from wearable devices to detect health changes, allowing for early intervention.
And advocacy groups are conducting experiments within the domain of communication and connectivity. Older Adults Technology Services, a project within AARP, took a new approach to technology support for older adults who are low income in New York City by offering free tablet computers, connectivity, training, and support to help alleviate social isolation and loneliness. Over 50 percent of the participants in the training group reported making a new social contact via email, social media, or text.
How brands can tap into the eight domains
Improving and evolving the eight domains offers long-term benefits for everyone by making communities and cities livable for all ages. Here are five actions brands can take:
Partner with community and advocacy groups that are taking direct action to improve the domains of urban life.
Supply data and strategy that can be used to improve systems and policies that benefit domains.
Improve products and services so that they’re age friendly and market them directly to older audiences.
Use metrics to find out more about older audiences. Know where they live, what products and services they need and want and what they value.
Help fund innovations related to the eight domains to create proof of concept and ready them for public funding.
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