ETHNOGRAPHY OF THE CITY
elderly in the city- agING IN NEW YORK
Two factors have to be taken into consideration nowadays and for our future. First, our population is drastically aging. While the life expectancy was 69 years old in 1960 in USA, it is 78,7 nowadays. In 2015, the USA population had more adults between the ages of 50 to 59 than citizens of 0 to 29 years old. The pyramids of age demonstrate a tendency where people tend to age more and have less children. Secondly, the population in cities and megacities is also drastically growing. In 2050 we believe that at least 65% of the entire population in the world will live in cities and particularly megacities.
Moreover, the elderly are also mostly living in cities. As a matter of fact, in 1978, already 63,9% of all women and 60,5% of all men of more than 65 years old were resident in the metropolitan areas in America [1].
Considering these two facts, we might wonder what is the future of our cities, how we should shape them, and for who. Indeed, when the notion of city comes into our mind, we usually think about effervescence, work, energy, crowd, stress, opportunities, diversity, rapidity, education, efficiency, technology, innovation, youth, independence. Thus, what part of the city is dedicated to the elderly? How to represent Elderly’s values, such as wisdom, knowledge, contemplation, simplicity, sociability, helpfulness, relaxation and roots in our cities?
Moreover, the elderly are also mostly living in cities. As a matter of fact, in 1978, already 63,9% of all women and 60,5% of all men of more than 65 years old were resident in the metropolitan areas in America [1].
Considering these two facts, we might wonder what is the future of our cities, how we should shape them, and for who. Indeed, when the notion of city comes into our mind, we usually think about effervescence, work, energy, crowd, stress, opportunities, diversity, rapidity, education, efficiency, technology, innovation, youth, independence. Thus, what part of the city is dedicated to the elderly? How to represent Elderly’s values, such as wisdom, knowledge, contemplation, simplicity, sociability, helpfulness, relaxation and roots in our cities?
The proximity and accessibility to parks is an important element in cities, especially for the elderly. sites.suffolk.edu
What are "Age-Friendly" cities?
While Environmental Psychologist demonstrated the benefits of the nature and the harm that can cause cities, noise, crowdedness and stress on our bodies and mental Health, we might wonder where is the best place to age. How does cities impact the elderly and their end of life ? And what can be done to make cities an healthy and positive environment for its inhabitant and particularly its elderly ? This study aims at gathering opinions from the elderly, but also from the young inhabitants of New York. What are their opinions ?
The factors enumerated previously ("twin forces of aging and urbanization") led to a concept initiated in 2006 by the WHO (World Health Organisation) : the Global Age-friendly Cities. This project aims at "creating supporting urban environment" for the older citizens [2].
In 1970 writers and architects already understood the impact of globalisation on cities, and the need to introduce elderly in the designs. Jane Jacobs or Richard Senetts "argued the case for celebrating the diversity of city life"[3]. According to Katz et al., megacities should promote economic growth, environmental sustainability and reduce poverty.
While Environmental Psychologist demonstrated the benefits of the nature and the harm that can cause cities, noise, crowdedness and stress on our bodies and mental Health, we might wonder where is the best place to age. How does cities impact the elderly and their end of life ? And what can be done to make cities an healthy and positive environment for its inhabitant and particularly its elderly ? This study aims at gathering opinions from the elderly, but also from the young inhabitants of New York. What are their opinions ?
The factors enumerated previously ("twin forces of aging and urbanization") led to a concept initiated in 2006 by the WHO (World Health Organisation) : the Global Age-friendly Cities. This project aims at "creating supporting urban environment" for the older citizens [2].
In 1970 writers and architects already understood the impact of globalisation on cities, and the need to introduce elderly in the designs. Jane Jacobs or Richard Senetts "argued the case for celebrating the diversity of city life"[3]. According to Katz et al., megacities should promote economic growth, environmental sustainability and reduce poverty.
- "You know, social connections is what you need wherever you are, so I think if there were just more ways for people to meet when they are not able to get around ... that would be my recommendation for NYC" Lady interviewed in Upper West Side.
Opportunities, social connection and care.
Organisation, clubs, associations, sports events, group walk, readings at the bookstore, exhibitions, church meeting, etc., NYC and cities in general provide a lot of opportunities for the older citizen to gather and to continue to be involved in the community and to be active, socially and physically. "Richard et al. (2009), for example, found higher levels of social and cultural participation among older people who had access to facilities such as corner shops, pubs, cafés, libraries and parks."[4]
Actually, can't we say that cities are keeping us younger ?
Organisation, clubs, associations, sports events, group walk, readings at the bookstore, exhibitions, church meeting, etc., NYC and cities in general provide a lot of opportunities for the older citizen to gather and to continue to be involved in the community and to be active, socially and physically. "Richard et al. (2009), for example, found higher levels of social and cultural participation among older people who had access to facilities such as corner shops, pubs, cafés, libraries and parks."[4]
Actually, can't we say that cities are keeping us younger ?
Cities offer opportunities for people to gather, meet and find social connection.Twitter-smart cities
Probably ! Movie theatre and restaurant appear to be the favorite places of our older citizen, where they like to appreciate their friends' company.
Medical care and proximity of hospitals is also a great attractive features for the older citizens of NYC, who are concerned by their health. Cities also are the centre of innovation, which is a great resource to improvement in a variety of fields, and can be favorable to the elderly as well. They would be first to benefit from it, on the contrary of their countryside counterparts.
Medical care and proximity of hospitals is also a great attractive features for the older citizens of NYC, who are concerned by their health. Cities also are the centre of innovation, which is a great resource to improvement in a variety of fields, and can be favorable to the elderly as well. They would be first to benefit from it, on the contrary of their countryside counterparts.
New Age-Friendly cities, like Oslo, provide the elderly with activities and care. Extranet WHO.int
- "A lot of older people, they grow old in an apartment and they can’t afford the rent so they get kicked out and they have no place to live, that's a problem in NYC." Man interviewed in Barnes and Nobles.
Elderly, Housing and Poverty. New York is too expensive
Throughout the interviews and the surveys, the financial difficulties faced by some older citizens is one of the main complication that came to the respondent's mind concerning older citizens. Homelessness can be the extreme version of it, but isolation, poor housing or nutrition and health vulnerability are another reality for them. Because of physical and/or mental disabilities and the loss of family or friends, the older citizens can experience rejection and extreme exclusion. Actually, "the number of homeless elderly is expected to grow to nearly 100,000 in 2050 from 58,000 in 2020, according to the Homelessness Research Institute"[5]. Organisation, such a DOROT, are created to help the elderly to age in dignity.
Throughout the interviews and the surveys, the financial difficulties faced by some older citizens is one of the main complication that came to the respondent's mind concerning older citizens. Homelessness can be the extreme version of it, but isolation, poor housing or nutrition and health vulnerability are another reality for them. Because of physical and/or mental disabilities and the loss of family or friends, the older citizens can experience rejection and extreme exclusion. Actually, "the number of homeless elderly is expected to grow to nearly 100,000 in 2050 from 58,000 in 2020, according to the Homelessness Research Institute"[5]. Organisation, such a DOROT, are created to help the elderly to age in dignity.
A great number of homeless are elderly that couldn't afford their home anymore.
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nursebloginternational.files.wordpress.com
Isolation and safety
It is also important to consider that a number of elderly in the cities are still isolated. Many reasons and factors can lead to isolation : health issues, lack of connection, shyness, lack of ressources etc. These persons are probably the one suffering from the disadvantageS of a city, especially in an individualist culture. Moreover it is important to notice that cities are also dangerous for older citizen, they are more vulnerable to violence and accidents. As an example, "Research in New York found that whilst those aged 65 and over comprise 13 per cent of the city’s population, they represent 33 per cent of pedestrian fatalities."[6].
It is also important to consider that a number of elderly in the cities are still isolated. Many reasons and factors can lead to isolation : health issues, lack of connection, shyness, lack of ressources etc. These persons are probably the one suffering from the disadvantageS of a city, especially in an individualist culture. Moreover it is important to notice that cities are also dangerous for older citizen, they are more vulnerable to violence and accidents. As an example, "Research in New York found that whilst those aged 65 and over comprise 13 per cent of the city’s population, they represent 33 per cent of pedestrian fatalities."[6].
Old lady from the Bronx reading the newspaper in Harlem.
"Like I won’t be late at night for example, and … well I am by myself, so … yes it can be hard. But it can be hard anywhere. " Lady met in Harlem Park, about difficulties in NYC
What about young adults, do they want to age in NYC ?
According to a survey distributed to some students at Lehman College, in the Bronx, young adults are divided when it comes to aging in New York city. They equally think that they would or would not like to age in the city. When they think of where they would like to age, they usually think about a warmer place or a calmer environment. However a lot of them can't picture themselves live elsewhere. New York is where they have always been, and they are deeply attached to the city, just like most of its inhabitants. The students also recognise the opportunities that cities offer to the elderly such as the medical care, benefits (especially in New York), connection and activities.
According to a survey distributed to some students at Lehman College, in the Bronx, young adults are divided when it comes to aging in New York city. They equally think that they would or would not like to age in the city. When they think of where they would like to age, they usually think about a warmer place or a calmer environment. However a lot of them can't picture themselves live elsewhere. New York is where they have always been, and they are deeply attached to the city, just like most of its inhabitants. The students also recognise the opportunities that cities offer to the elderly such as the medical care, benefits (especially in New York), connection and activities.
- "NYC is too fast paced for the elderly. After a certain age it’s hard for them to keep up, even with family members around to help." Lehman College Student
However they acknowledge the difficulties that can impact on the elderly, and particularly the weather that can be difficult, with high temperature in summer and coldness in winter. The city is also not designed for snow, it leads to more difficulties for the elderly to move at that period of time. They also mention the fact that the western culture is particularly difficult to elderly, that are less respected than in other culture. They also notice the rhythm of the city, very fast pace, and the noise, as well as the crowd, that doesn't represent a peace place to rest and enjoy simplicity. Finally, they are aware of the difficulties for low income elderly, where opportunities are care are not affordable or accessible anymore.
- "In New York there are many people and organizations that tend to the elderly and care about the elderly population". Lehman College Student
An interesting founding of the survey is that the students typically see their grandparents less than every two month. However, a lot of the students have their grandparents in another country, usually oversees or in Central and South America.
The students also notified that their grandparent's were not all as active as the person interviewed for the study. Even if their grandparents seem to mainly have outdoors activity in groups, they also seem to not be actively involved in cultural activities. A deeper study could display the differences according to the neighbourhood or the place of residence.
The students also notified that their grandparent's were not all as active as the person interviewed for the study. Even if their grandparents seem to mainly have outdoors activity in groups, they also seem to not be actively involved in cultural activities. A deeper study could display the differences according to the neighbourhood or the place of residence.
Results of the survey distributed to students in the Bronx- Lehman College.
Finally, this study needs a wider range of answers in order to take into account all the divergence and thus be able to accurately estimate the good of aging in cities and megacities. However, it demonstrates that the elderly aren't thinking about where to age so much. They usually are happy to stay wherever they lived and where they have connections. Older citizen in NYC have lived here all their life and they know how to cope with the city crowd and noise, mobility is easy for them thanks to the transportation and they find benefits and health care really beneficial. However NYC remain a hard place to age when it comes to cost of life which can lead to extreme difficulties, even homelessness. More housing opportunities, financial help, services or program, better connection for the most isolated and a better accessibility are the recommendation of our older citizens for New York.
The Elderly are involved in their communities and in the city life. They also like to discover technologies and use the opportunities they have. Smart-cities- National League of Cities.org
Notes
1. Kresl P.K., Ietri D.,"Ageing of the Population: Good News for Cities", Local Economy, Vol. 24, Nos. 6–7, September–November 2009, p625.
2. Buffel T., Phillipson C.,Scharf T,(2012). “Ageing in urban environments : Developing ‘ age-friendly” cities. Sage,Critical Social Policy (32)4, p598.
3. Idem, p601.
4. Idem, p604
5. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/07/opinion/elderly-and-homeless.html
6. Buffel T., Phillipson C.,Scharf T,(2012). “Ageing in urban environments : Developing ‘ age-friendly” cities. Sage,Critical Social Policy (32)4,p602
1. Kresl P.K., Ietri D.,"Ageing of the Population: Good News for Cities", Local Economy, Vol. 24, Nos. 6–7, September–November 2009, p625.
2. Buffel T., Phillipson C.,Scharf T,(2012). “Ageing in urban environments : Developing ‘ age-friendly” cities. Sage,Critical Social Policy (32)4, p598.
3. Idem, p601.
4. Idem, p604
5. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/07/opinion/elderly-and-homeless.html
6. Buffel T., Phillipson C.,Scharf T,(2012). “Ageing in urban environments : Developing ‘ age-friendly” cities. Sage,Critical Social Policy (32)4,p602
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