A great city is one that is designed for everyone. That means taking into consideration what different groups of people need, want, and like. What a teenage girl might like to do as she strolls through the city is not the same as what a 70 year-old man might find enjoyable. But both of these people equally deserve to enjoy their city and what it has to offer.
In our series Social Life for All, we have looked at the kinds of places where women, men, children, couples, families, and even pets thrive. In this new edition, we take a look at where elderly people like to gather and what they like to do as they explore their built environment. The more such places we create, the more we will enrich the day-to-day experience of our seniors and give them a higher quality of life.
Shared Public Seating
Seating in the public realm is essential. Everyone needs to sit down occasionally, and seniors in particular. A lack of benches and chairs that they can use to take a break is usually a sign of an inhospitable place that they are likely to avoid. Streets where not a single bench can be found say to seniors "you are not welcome here."
There are a variety of public seating options available and their design facilitates different kinds of behaviors and activities. For example, shared seating like a bench is social. It allows people to sit together and chat, enjoy a snack or meal together, and even meet new people and strike up conversation. In the midst of an epidemic of loneliness that has hit the senior population especially hard, opportunities to connect with others are essential for health and wellbeing.
Shared seating can look many different ways: From benches that make room for many ways to sit or perch, to picnic-style tables, different arrangements ensure that people are able to take a seat and connect with others in a variety of ways.
Individual Public Seating
Individual seating is also valuable in a city because it allows people to have some time to themselves. It's a lovely experience to take a stroll alone through a park or square, and sometimes you want to sit and reflect by yourself instead of sharing a bench with a stranger. Chairs like those in Luxembourg Gardens or Bryant Park make that possible and enjoyable.
The mobility of the individual chair is also great for configuring a seating arrangement with friends in a unique way – perhaps to play a game or sit in a larger group than a fixed bench can fit. The chair is easy to position and orient however a person chooses, making it an attractive choice for every variation of social life.
Shopping
As people get older, it can become difficult to drive or cross large distances to get daily essentials like food, medicine and other goods. The closer stores and businesses are to homes, the more accessible they are for people who find mobility to be a challenge.
Neighborhood main streets, grocery stores, and markets make it possible for seniors to run errands and to live more independent lives. They also give them more opportunities to cross paths with neighbors, chat with local business owners, and keep their social lives active and interesting.
Having Fun
We sometimes forget that fun isn't only for children and young people. Everyone likes to have fun and everyone should have opportunities to do so built into the environment. While kids may flock to jungle gyms, older folks tend to gather at bocce ball fields and chess tables. Having these and other similar opportunities for fun and enjoyment embedded into public places makes them senior-friendly and attracts people of all ages, not just children.
Board games are very popular among crowds who have had some years under their belt to master strategic moves. Parks and public places that have tables set up and even with board games built into them quickly become popular meeting spots for seniors. They present opportunities to meet new people, make friends, and build community.
Performing
Older people have an enormous wealth of talent and skills collected over their lives and enjoy sharing them with others. Some of the best street performers and musicians are in their later years, brightening the streets with their numerous gifts. From comedy to magic, seniors know how to enchant an audience and should be given opportunities to do so.
Hanging Out
Many seniors live isolated lives and suffer from loneliness because social life is not built into their neighborhoods. With their limited mobility, the lack of key amenities in their neighborhoods like benches and shade that make strolling easier, and without places like squares and main streets located nearby, many older people are left confined to their homes all alone.
Encouraging seniors to get out of the house and connect with the community and each other is dependent on the presence of comfortable and pleasant ways to get around and destinations like great public places being available and accessible to them. Neighborhood squares, lively parks, main streets, and active markets in the area are key to making social life accessible and inviting for people of every age and physical ability.
Showing Affection
The best public places are those where we feel at ease – where we can put our guard down and enjoy our surroundings and our loved ones. When you see even the more vulnerable members of society so relaxed and comfortable that they engage in acts of affection, you know you've found an amazing spot that makes everyone feel at home.
Enjoying a Treat
Everyone loves an ice cream on a hot day. Even on a cold one! That's why having kiosks or trucks that offer refreshments and treats like ice cream cones are a great amenity anywhere in a city. Wherever they go, people of all ages follow.
Cycling
It's a great mistake to assume that only young people cycle. Everyone cycles when cycling is made to be convenient, safe, and comfortable, including people of an advanced age. Cycling infrastructure expands their freedom of movement and keeps them fit and healthy so that they can enjoy their later years even longer.
Promenading
There is nothing as enjoyable as a long, relaxed stroll on a vibrant promenade lined with flowers and trees, facing beautiful views. For those who may have difficulty with more active workouts like jogging or exercising, a daily stroll is an essential physical activity for maintaining health.
Having places where it can take place, like a car-free promenade, is vital to making that happen. What's more, a promenade is the perfect place to gather with friends, bump into neighbors to catch up on neighborhood affairs, and stop for an ice cream.
With old age, many people lose ease of mobility, deal with various health issues, and find it more difficult to keep in touch with their community and friends because of it. This can lead to them feeling isolated and alone, dependent on others, and struggling to hold on to their quality of life. For them more than anyone it is important to create an environment where community life and key destinations are easily accessible.
By putting public places and businesses close by through improved walkability, by creating safe bike infrastructure, by adding comfortable amenities and designing streets to be inviting to pedestrians and mobility aids, we create cities where seniors can thrive and rightfully enjoy their later years.
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