Belfast·SPG005 Placemaking and Urban Design·Page 33·4.5.2
Designing for an aging population
Development should incorporate healthy aging characteristics and accessible design to allow older people to move easily and interact with younger neighbours, improving health and reducing isolation.
By 2036 one in four of the UK's population will be over 65 years of age. Designing for an aging population and incorporating 'healthy aging' characteristics to buildings and spaces, whereby older people can move more easily and interact with younger neighbours in terms of social support options, can improve health and well being and help reduce isolation. Actively catering for the needs of older residents within the design process can help reduce loneliness and inactivity and have a profound effect on delaying the aspects of frailty and dementia, which are prevalent problems for older people.
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