Building a more accessible future for older people (Liz Lynne)

Building a more accessible future for older people

November 16, 2006 2:21 PM

Buildings, the urban environment and public transport should be designed with the needs of older people in mind - that is the message from the co-chair of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Ageing, Liz Lynne MEP.

Liz, who was co-host of the event, was speaking at the launch of a reference manual on accessibility by the Build for All project in Strasbourg this week.

"Many older people have disabilities but we must also realize we have to look at the needs of older people and disabled people separately.

"We can do a lot in the EU by making accessibility requirements compulsory in all EU funded projects and Structural Funds guidelines now include clear reference on accessibility but that is not enough. We need more research into the needs of older people in this field and any research has to be done with consultation of end users.

"Indoor and outdoor environments affect the ability of older people to stay active. A key area is transport. We need to make sure that all public transport is accessible to everyone and that is why we have to look at universal design.

"This should not just be applied to technical aspects but also at information content - easy to read documents, information clearly provided, 'step-by-step' provision following the logic of the journey and trained personal support.

"Only with this in place will we give more choice for elderly people and give them the confidence to travel that they may lack"

"The urban environment must be built with the needs of older people in mind, whether that be safe pavements, urban furniture to allow older people to rest more often or clean and accessible lavatories to enable older people to travel or even go shopping.

"We also need to make sure that older people who choose to carry on working, as they can do now with recent anti-age discrimination legislation, are able to do so easily and that the built environment does not put obstacles in their way. Building for all is a prerequisite to enable not just older people but disabled people as well to remain active in the labour market.

"It is just as important that it also applies at home. That is why design for all should be a concept from the beginning when homes are built. Most people want to stay in their own homes as long as possible and that is why all new homes should be designed with that in mind. It will have a huge cost saving in the future as homes will no longer have to be adapted as people get older or become disabled.

"Easy access is the key as well as good lighting, non slippery services, good insulation, short distances to walk where possible and good quality materials. Build for all or design for all makes sense in whatever field."

Notes for Editors

The Build for All project launched a reference manual for use by public contracting authorities to assist them in the inclusion of accessibility criteria in calls for tenders for construction works for public buildings and spaces.

The launch marked the first time that the European Parliament's Intergroups on Urban Housing, Disability and Aging had come together for a joint event.

For more information please go to www.build-for-all.net.

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