Sustainable Age-friendly CommunitiesConor Skehan, School of Spatial Planning, DIT

KILKENNY AGE FRIENDLY COUNTY SEMINAR

Friday March 26th 2010

We are not planning for the already old...

We are planning for – the New Old- Ourselves!!!

Changing Value Systems

Modernisation Post-Modernisation

THEN NOW FUTURE

Centrist Regional Autonomous

Control Consult Co-operate

Uniform Cluster Specialist

Certainty Accommodation Innovation

Grow Sustain Enjoy

Baby boomers will be

Changing Needs

• Grey Panthers [powerful & politicized]

• Wealthy, healthy and demanding• Obsessed with self-expression and

fulfilment

• Wealthy• Healthy• Powerful• Fun-loving• Creative• Challenging

A Good DeathTo experience the end of life with as much composure, dignity and

resolution as possible with minimal and appropriate levels of

discomfort and anxiety

MeaningfulTo be able to participate in society

in ways that provide a sense of achievement and contribution

ComfortableTo be able to identify and pursue

challenges with minimal and proportionate physical discomfort

or compromise

ContentedTo be able to pursue interests and

activities with minimal and proportionate consideration of the

affordability or convenience

Desirable Outcomes of Ageing Well

StimulationOpportunity

Belonging

ExperienceEnjoyment

Security

MobilityLegibility

WHAT CAN PLANNING PROVIDE?

Planning for Age

The canary in the coalmine

Old Planning• Predict-plan-provide• Identification-segregation-

transportation

• Prescriptive• Conservative• Administrative

Emerging Planning• Joined-up-living• Accomodation-

concentration-transportation

• Spatial• Positive• Flexible

PLANNING = Preparing for the Future

Planning for Age - The Choices

Planning for the already aged• Coping• Problem Solving

Plan for the future old [us!]• Encouraging early, wise

movement• Meeting the Needs of the New

Aged• Experience• Enjoyment• Stimulation• Opportunity• Security• Mobility• Legibility• Belonging

Planning for Age - The Choices

Cope with today• Change Places – towns,

villages, streets• Change Homes• Changes Lives• Address Issues

– Transportation– Security– Welfare– Health

- COPING -

Plan for tomorrow• Change Minds• ‘Think Twice – Build Once’• Provide for future needs

- PLANNING -

Convenience Variety Security Legibility Amenity

Inner Urban -

Urban Villages

Inner Suburbs

Suburbs

Outer Suburbs

Villages

Countryside - -

Where’s the best place to age?

1

2

4

3

4

Planning for AgeSpatial Planning for Change & Continuity

Plan for Change• Stimulation – seeking and solving Challenges• Opportunity – to meet change with Change• Safety – security, care, Certainty

Plan for Continuity [Ageing in Place]• Mobility – easier Movement• Legibility – not being Lost• Company – Belonging

Conclusion 1The Planning Challenges

Conclusion 2The Challenges

Move emphasis from exclusive quantitative to more qualitative

Moving on from having enough, or being good enough

To being good fun!

Move from Specialisation to IntegrationWhat’s good for age will be good for all