Environmental and Policy Change to Support Healthy Aging |
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| Authors: | Rebecca H Hunter MEd Kathy Sykes MA Sarah G Lowman MPH Richard Duncan MRP William A Satariano PhD MPH Basia Belza PhD RN FAAN |
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| Institution: | 1. Senior Scientist, Institute on Aging, University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA rebecca_hunter@unc.edu;3. Senior Advisor, Aging Initiative, Office of External Affairs and Environmental Education , Environmental Protection Agency , Washington, District of Columbia, USA;4. Social/Clinical Research Specialist, Center for Aging and Health, School of Medicine , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA;5. Executive Director, RL Mace Universal Design Institute , Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA;6. Professor of Epidemiology and Community Health, Division of Community Health and Human Development, School of Public Health , University of California , Berkeley, California, USA;7. Professor, School of Nursing, and Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health , University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA |
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| Abstract: | Given the growing evidence of the influence of the environment on older adult health, the need to design and implement effective environmental policy around healthy and vital aging is urgent. This article describes issues amenable to improvement through policy change, evidence supporting specific policy approaches and outcomes, and promising strategies for implementing those approaches. Key areas of focus are neighborhood design and safety, housing, transportation, and mobility. Strategies to build capacity for policy change are also addressed. Our goals are to foster greater attention to environmental change in support of healthy aging and to illuminate directions for policy change. |
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| Keywords: | aging environment housing neighborhood design physical activity policy safety transportation universal design |
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