This dissertation examines the potential for professional/community planning to respond pro-actively and strategically to the impending demographic changes which will be brought about by the aging of the baby boom generation. This multi-phased investigation was designed to explore whether professional planning could uncover models and concepts which can be used to make cities and communities more age-friendly. Several conclusions can be drawn from the study. It was found that planners are not ready for demographic change nor are they prepared for helping create age-friendly cities. This is due to several reasons, including a lack of resources forcing them to concentrate on short-term, immediate issues; lack of power and credibility; and a perception that the elderly are a lower priority in society. For planners to become proactive and strategic in planning for age-friendly cities, they will need to re-examine their tendency to focus mainly on land use planning; focus on the long-term agenda; establish credibility with politicians; develop visionary skills; and become educators and facilitators, engaging key stakeholders and community groups. The data indicated that planners have a limited knowledge of gerontology. However, a high level of congruence was found between the newer planning models and key research dimensions in gerontology. If these two fields were to work closer together, each would become better equipped to produce knowledge which will help society deal with aging demographics. Evidence also showed congruence between the newer planning models, building age-friendly cities and the environmental agenda. Common factors such as urban intensification (particularly in the core), building more compact urban form and increasing multi-modal transportation options (including pedestrianism) help reduce sprawl, congestion and pollution and concomitantly help create an environment which is healthier and friendly to all ages, including seniors. Findings from this research are used to develop a hybrid “Wise Growth” planning model to encourage the development of age-friendly cities.

This dissertation examines the potential for professional/community planning to respond pro-actively and strategically to the impending demographic changes which will be brought about by the aging of the baby boom generation. This multi-phased investigation was designed to explore whether professional planning could uncover models and concepts which can be used to make cities and communities more age-friendly. Several conclusions can be drawn from the study. It was found that planners are not ready for demographic change nor are they prepared for helping create age-friendly cities. This is due to several reasons, including a lack of resources forcing them to concentrate on short-term, immediate issues; lack of power and credibility; and a perception that the elderly are a lower priority in society. For planners to become proactive and strategic in planning for age-friendly cities, they will need to re-examine their tendency to focus mainly on land use planning; focus on the long-term agenda; establish credibility with politicians; develop visionary skills; and become educators and facilitators, engaging key stakeholders and community groups. The data indicated that planners have a limited knowledge of gerontology. However, a high level of congruence was found between the newer planning models and key research dimensions in gerontology. If these two fields were to work closer together, each would become better equipped to produce knowledge which will help society deal with aging demographics. Evidence also showed congruence between the newer planning models, building age-friendly cities and the environmental agenda. Common factors such as urban intensification (particularly in the core), building more compact urban form and increasing multi-modal transportation options (including pedestrianism) help reduce sprawl, congestion and pollution and concomitantly help create an environment which is healthier and friendly to all ages, including seniors. Findings from this research are used to develop a hybrid “Wise Growth” planning model to encourage the development of age-friendly cities.

In order to promote active aging for persons with ID, discussions on new initiatives, for example, designing age-friendly communities have begun at the international and local levels. The overall goal of this qualitative research study was to identify features of an age-friendly community from the perspective of older adults with ID, themselves, their caregivers, and service providers. A total of seven individuals aged 45+ with ID were interviewed. In addition, a total of 15 caregivers/service providers participated in focus group discussions. Many of the current features of the city of Winnipeg do not adequately address the needs of persons aging with ID. A number of recommendations were made to make Winnipeg a more age-friendly community. The study was exploratory in nature, the first step towards development of future research projects to explore issues and intervention strategies more in depth to promote healthy and active aging among persons aging with ID.

North American populations are aging, yet the issues and challenges faced by older adults remain largely unaccounted for in planning processes. This research examines this invisibility in the specific case of Winnipeg, MB and through University of Manitoba’s Centre on Aging Age-Friendly Communities Community University Research Alliance (CURA) that builds on the World Health Organization (WHO 2006) notion of age-friendly cities. The research will first document the relationship between aging issues, age-friendly cities and planning through a review of planning and aging-related literature. The second aspect of the research is focus groups interviews with community partners in the Age-Friendly Communities CURA, and semi-structured interviews with municipal planners. Recommendations developed outline how organizations working towards a more age-friendly city can more effectively engage with planning processes, particularly during the review of Winnipeg’s official plan.

North American populations are aging, yet the issues and challenges faced by older adults remain largely unaccounted for in planning processes. This research examines this invisibility in the specific case of Winnipeg, MB and through University of Manitoba’s Centre on Aging Age-Friendly Communities Community University Research Alliance (CURA) that builds on the World Health Organization (WHO 2006) notion of age-friendly cities. The research will first document the relationship between aging issues, age-friendly cities and planning through a review of planning and aging-related literature. The second aspect of the research is focus groups interviews with community partners in the Age-Friendly Communities CURA, and semi-structured interviews with municipal planners. Recommendations developed outline how organizations working towards a more age-friendly city can more effectively engage with planning processes, particularly during the review of Winnipeg’s official plan.

The fastest growing age group in Canada is seniors aged 65 years or older (Statistics Canada’s 2006 & 2007). The population of seniors is projected to increase to 6.7 million by 2021 and 9.2 million by 2041 (nearly one in every four Canadians) (Social Development Canada, 2006a; Statistics Canada, 2007b). Similarly, Population Estimates, Waterloo Region and Ontario, 2011 and Population Projections, Waterloo Region and Ontario, 2016, 2026 & 2036 (Region of Waterloo, 2012b, 2012c) indicate that the Region of Waterloo expects an increase in its senior population by 145.4% from year 2011 to 2036. Due to increased longevity and an increased percentage of older adults, this demographic shift poses challenges for communities, including increased healthcare costs and social isolation among seniors, which may threaten their active participation in the community. The research question ‘Do urban design guidelines of the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo address the needs of an ageing population?’ motivates this study to examine the Urban Design Manuals of the Cities of Waterloo and Kitchener to determine the age-friendliness of the current urban design guidelines, and the role of the built environment in active ageing. The current urban design guidelines of the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo are compared with the Design of Public Spaces Standards (Accessibility Standards for the Built Environment) by Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA); the Universal Design Principles; key findings based on the literature review (Levine, 2003; Story, Mueller, & Mace, 1998); and analysed with in-depth knowledge gained through semi-structured interviews with seniors, planners, and focus groups. The participation of the seniors provided information on the gaps between what already exists and what is required. The key finding of the report is that the urban design guidelines of the Cities of Waterloo and Kitchener are fairly comprehensive in addressing the needs of seniors, but there is inadequate implementation of these guidelines.

Ce travail de thèse porte sur l'analyse de l'appropriation et de la mise en oeuvre de la démarche Villes Amies des Aînés (VADA) par des communes françaises. Sur la base de soixante-dix entretiens semi-directifs, d'une analyse secondaire de données et de l'observation active, nous avons étudié comment treize municipalités françaises se sont engagées dans la démarche VADA.Articulé autour des notions de lutte contre l'âgisme, de consultation des habitants et de transversalité, ce travail de recherche tend à analyser la manière dont les communes françaises ont fait évoluer les politiques publiques locales sur la base de la démarche VADA, en cohérence avec les politiques nationales et les préconisations des organisations internationales, dans un contexte démographique inédit. De cette manière, nous avons pu déterminer des critères principaux susceptibles de générer une modification en profondeur despolitiques publiques initiées dans les collectivités territoriales, leur permettant de s'extraire d'une logique exclusivement médico-sociale d'assistance au profit d'une prise en compte et d'une inclusion des personnes âgées en tant qu'habitants et acteurs de la cité.Réalisée dans le cadre d'un contrat CIFRE au sein du Réseau Francophone des Villes Amies des aînés, cette étude a vu le jour afin de répondre à des objectifs pratiques quant à l'adaptation des dispositifs d'accompagnement et de formation des élus et des professionnels pilotes des démarches. / This PhD work aims to analyse the way French cities seize and implement the Agefriendly Cities approach on their territories. Thanks to seventy semi-guided interviews, a second data analysis and active observation, we studied how thirteen French cities decided to implement the Age-friendly Cities approach.This work of research revolves around ideas about how to combat ageism, about the importance of consulting the inhabitants and of using a cross-disciplinary way of work. Like that, it aims to analyse how French cities adapted their local public policies in coherence with the frame given by the Age-friendly Cities approach, the national policies and the recommendations of the international bodies, all that in an unprecedented demographic context. That way, we have been able to determine some main criteria likely to modify, in depth, the public policies initiated by local authorities, enabling them to go out from amedico-social reasoning of assistance and to get closer to a way of work taking into account older people and considering them as inhabitant and stakeholders of the city.Carried out thanks to a CIFRE contract (a French agreement allowing passing a PhD inside a company) within the Francophone Network of Age-friendly Cities, this study was necessary to answer practical objectives related to the adaptation of training offers and support measures for elected representatives and professionals, in charge of the implementation of the Age-friendly Cities approach in the member cities.

Planning for individuals with varying degrees of impairments has, over the past 40 years, challenged conventional approaches to community development. However, more recently there has emerged, both within research and greater society, a need to understand how the disabling nature of the built environment impacts our inevitably aging population. Recognizing such, this thesis research explores whether planning policies within the City of Waterloo reflect an age-friendly model of development. Moreover, recognizing that the aging population increasingly experiences some form of impairment, this research further utilizes universal design as means to more comprehensively review for an aging supportive model. The fundamental goal of an age-friendly approach is to address the needs of individuals at all stages of their life with an obvious emphasis on promoting longer independence. A number of literature sources were utilized in developing two separate analysis tools that focused on goal-oriented policies such as Official Plans as well as prescriptive planning policy including Zoning By-laws and Urban Design Guidelines. This research attempts to provide a means with which to determine the age-friendliness of planning policies, how age-friendly policies may incorporate provisions regarding accessibility, as well as changes that municipalities may wish to consider in the implementation of an age-friendly model.

Canada’s population is aging rapidly, such that by 2031 it is estimated that one quarter of Canada’s population will be aged 65 or older (Statistics Canada December 15, 2006). It is argued that urban environments are often not adequately designed for older people and can impair their ability to live independently into their elder years (Harris 2004). Proper planning can help people age successfully in their community. This research practicum assesses three town centres within the City of Surrey to determine whether they are agefriendly based on the perceptions of residents over the age of 65. Results from the research found that areas in need of improvement included public transit, the walking environment, clustering various land uses, parks amenities, and home assistance, among other things. The practicum concludes with recommendations of areas for further study.

Canada’s population is aging rapidly, such that by 2031 it is estimated that one quarter of Canada’s population will be aged 65 or older (Statistics Canada December 15, 2006). It is argued that urban environments are often not adequately designed for older people and can impair their ability to live independently into their elder years (Harris 2004). Proper planning can help people age successfully in their community. This research practicum assesses three town centres within the City of Surrey to determine whether they are agefriendly based on the perceptions of residents over the age of 65. Results from the research found that areas in need of improvement included public transit, the walking environment, clustering various land uses, parks amenities, and home assistance, among other things. The practicum concludes with recommendations of areas for further study.