1. How to design an inclusive urban environment
for people of all ages
Emi Kiyota, Ph.D.
President, Ibasho

2. What are the issues?
Elders are not being able to:
• Drive a car
• Go out for entertainment
• Visit family
• Complete household tasks
• Use high-tech devices

3. Inclusive cities
• Resources to maintain health and live independently
– Economic security
– Affordable housing
– Adequate transportation
– Participate in community life
– Opportunities for meaningful employment and civic
participation.
• Affordable long-term services
• Meaningful caregiver supports
• A society that understands the positive aspects of
aging

4. differently. Gender relations structure the entire lifecourse,
influencing access to resources and opportunities, with an
impact that is both ongoing and cumulative.
In many situations, older women are usually more vulnerable
to discrimination, including poor access to jobs and healthcare,
subjection to abuse, denial of the right to own and inherit
property, and lack of basic minimum income and social
security. But older men, particularly after retirement, may
also become vulnerable due to their weaker social support
networks and can also be subject to abuse, particularly
financial abuse. These differences have important
implications for public policy and programme planning.
into old age, and ensuring enabling and supportive
environments.
The Madrid Plan calls for changes in attitudes, policies
and practices to ensure that older persons are not viewed
simply as welfare beneficiaries but as active participants in
the development process whose rights must be respected.
Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: A Celebration and
A Challenge is a contribution to the ten-year review and
appraisal of progress towards implementation of the
Madrid Plan.
Figure 2: Number of people aged 60 or over: World, developed and developing countries, 1950-2050
13
• By 2050 1 in 5 people will be over 60
• Over 60 population will be larger than the under-15 population in 2050
• 80% of world's older people will live in developing countries by 2050
• More than 180 million older people live in poverty
Number of people aged 60 or over:
World, developed and developing countries, 1950-2050
Source: UNDESA, World Population
Ageing 2011 (2012; forthcoming), based
on UNDESA Population Division medium
projection scenario, World Population
Prospects: The 2010 Revision.
Note: The group of “developed countries”
corresponds to the “more developed
regions” of the World Population Prospects:
The 2010 Revision, and the group
“developing countries” corresponds to
the “less developed regions” of the same
publication.
2,500 million
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
Developed countries
Developing countries
2,000
1,500
1,000
Source: UNDESA, World Population Ageing 2011 (2012; forthcoming),
based on UNDESA Population Division medium projection scenario,
World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision.
Note: The group of “developed countries” corresponds to the “more
developed regions” of the World Population Prospects: The 2010
Revision, and the group “developing countries” corresponds to the
“less developed regions” of the same publication. 0
500
Developed countries
Developing countries

5. Bad news?
• High proportion of elderly population
• Economical burden
• Shortage of caregivers
• Shortage of affordable housing for elders to age in place
• Poverty
• Inappropriate infrastructure
• Growing number of persons with dementia

6. Good news?
• Elders are healthier
• Experience and wisdom
• More elders who could contribute to society
• More elders for children

7. Changing our social
perception
Elders are vulnerable populations who need to
be cared for by younger generations
Aging society = Elders as burden to our society

8. Key questions
Are we able to age without fear under the current
environment and services for older population?
Do we want to be treated as a “vulnerable
population” who need to be cared for by society?

9. Ibasho cafe

10. What is Ibasho café?
Ibasho
Principles
Ibasho
Social mission
Not for profit org./
coop
Non-institutional
services
Governed by
Elders
Social environment
Elders’
engagement for
development
Non-institutional
environment
Close proximity to
community
services
Physical environment
Ibasho mission

11. Principle 1:
Older people are a valuable asset to the community

12. Principle 2:
Creating informal gathering places

13. Principle 3:
Community members drive development and implementation

14. Principle 3:
Community members drive development and implementation

15. Principle 4:
All generations are involved in the community

16. Principle 4:
All generations are involved in the community

17. Principle 5:
All residents participate in normal community life

18. Principle 6:
Local culture and traditions are respected

19. Principle 6:
Local culture and traditions are respected

20. Principle 7:
Communities are environmentally, economically,
and socially sustainable

21. Principle 8:
Growth of the community is organic
and embraces imperfection gracefully

22. Disability
Disability is not an inherent attribute of the
individual but, rather, is the result of the
interaction of the individual with the
environment, including social norms.
(IOM, 2009)