Walkability features for seniors in two livable communities: a case study

Abstract

Worldwide the number of people over age of 60 years is rapidly increasing. Many communities are challenged to make their communities more walkable and age friendly. Addressing the trend, this study investigated two major metropolitan regions’ policies regarding livability and examined how two case study housing sites practiced walkability for seniors in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area in Minnesota, the United States, and the Vancouver Metropolitan Area in British Columbia, Canada. Analyses show that in the Canadian case, the policy was explicitly age-friendly requiring senior citizen’s involvement and proximity to places for seniors’ activities in planning activities and implementation. In contrast, the US case focused on transit-oriented development and did not specifically require age-friendly practices. Walkability of a specific multifamily housing site in each case was evaluated to identify the impacts of the livable communities legislation. Analyses of the site evaluations found substantial differences in available destinations that encourage walking among seniors. The conclusion provides suggestions for ways that cities and their urban regions can be made more sustainable and livable as the number of elderly residents increases over time.

Keywords:

• walkability
• age friendly
• built environment

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Heidi Erm, University of Minnesota Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program recipient, for her assistance with this research project. This study was presented at the 2014 Housing Education and Research Association annual conference.

Additional information

Funding

The Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and Virginia Tech Institute provided partial funding for the research.

Notes on contributors

Eunju Hwang

Dr Eunju Hwang is Assistant Professor of Residential Environments and Design in the Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management at Virginia Tech. Her teaching and research interests include housing for special populations, age-friendly liveable communities, low-income housing, home modifications, and housing from a global/cultural perspective.

Ann Ziebarth

Dr Ann Ziebarth is a Professor in the Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel at the University of Minnesota. Her research in Housing Studies focuses on demographic, economic, and policy changes including impacts on communities of aging populations, the need for workforce housing, and rental housing in rural America.