Older persons

This stakeholder roundtable focuses on older persons who face exceptional barriers and marginalisation in cities. Older persons face particular barriers to mobility and participation. The roundtable will give them a voice and allow participants to highlight their priorities in cities.

Currently, 8.5% of the current global population is over 65 and it is predicted that by 2050 there will be more over-65s than children under 15. As such, it is clear that older persons must be a major stakeholder group in achieving sustainable urban development. Ageing populations are currently a major demographic reality in high income countries, and this trend will soon come to low and middle income countries. Older persons face unique barriers to mobility, access to public space and participation in governance.

Access to public transport can be challenging for older persons. Public transport stops tend to be too far apart for mobility purposes, whilst access to cars is more difficult, with many being excluded from obtaining a driving licence. Unfortunately, access to Taxis and Carshare services is also more challenging due to limited accessibility of many vehicles. Limited access to transport hinders access to most other services, particularly healthcare and entertainment, which reduces the quality of life of older persons and restricts their opportunities in cities.

Due to formal and informal barriers, older persons have less voice in urban planning and management. Older persons are often excluded from public consultations due to lack of accessibility, either online or in person. Older persons in general have less access to online services and digital literacy, limiting their ability to engage in local government online. And due to limited mobility, they are often unable to attend public consultations in person. This leads to a lack of voice in urban governance and urban planning, leading to further discrimination in urban areas.

Q1: What are the top three challenges for older persons in cities?

Q2: What can be done by authorities and community groups to remedy this?

Q3: How do we ensure the inclusion of older persons who are particularly marginalised or living in low income contexts?

Q4: How can local governments and other stakeholders help tackle age-based discrimination?