The world is getting older, and it's great
What rapidly ageing global population teaches us about accessibility, and how designing for the elderly benefits everybody.
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A tale of two cities
This is Singapore, a developed city-state, an island in South-East Asia, home to over 5.5 million people.
By 2030, 25% of its population is projected to be over 65 years old. Singapore’s economic growth greatly benefitted its residents, but also presented them with a challenge. How do you create an elderly-friendly urban environment? How do you make sure that as your average citizen is getting older, they are not excluded from any activities and enjoy unrestricted access to all services?
Singapore chose the best possible course and incorporated the textbook principles of inclusive design into city planning.
Take mobility, for instance. Singapore’s buses are equipped with ramps, subway stations have lifts, and pavements are wide and flat. Parents with strollers, people in wheelchairs, elderly with canes and crutches: public spaces (beside hiking trails and old houses) are accessible to everybody.
Placing the needs of the most vulnerable groups first, Singapore shapes an inclusive urban environment with few barriers and flat learning curve. As a result, the city will not have to overhaul its public transportation as its population ages.
Compare this with Jakarta, the city notorious for its traffic congestions, where public transportation remains largely inaccessible to people with disabilities and senior residents. A poorly planned, inconsiderate urban environment creates challenges at every corner, particularly for those who are not as mobile as an average young, able-bodied adult.
There is a good reason why low-floor buses exist, and it is doubtful that anyone had ever missed having to climb a flight of stairs to get on board. Similarly, a comfortably wide, level pavement makes it easier to move around, in a wheelchair or otherwise.
Digitise this
Accessible environments enhance residents’ mobility and involvement in public life, create more diverse, welcoming, and empathetic communities. The ageing population requires more inclusive spaces, products, and services, and by addressing their needs first, designers and engineers craft delightful experiences for everyone.
Digital products adhere to similar principles. Poor usability negatively impact everyone, but older users, people with impairments, and low tech literacy are usually affected more severely. Accessible products, on the other hand, ensure that every user has access to all features, regardless of their tech affinity, preferences, and impairments.
A persona of a senior resident requires a different approach to design, demands certain considerations, and results in more inclusive and human–centred solutions.