The greying of our communities worldwide

There are two global trends occurring concurrently: urbanization and population ageing. Today, half of the world population lives in cities, and the numbers are projected to rise dramatically. At the same time, due to increased longevity, our communities are greying. Dwellings have to house people of more advanced age than ever before. These concerns transcend the divide between developed and developing countries, because every country hopes to foster independent living and quality of life regardless of life expectancy. Housing is a defining feature of quality of life. Where good quality stock exists in sufficient quantity, the elderly are less likely to experience problems, but their access to housing is also affected by economic, social and political considerations. There are two major public policy debates raging presently: Who is responsible for the care of elderly people? How can income, health, housing and social services be integrated? The responses to these questions have implications for housing and services. The solutions are as individual as each country, but they all seek to promote ageing in a supportive environment.