The number of middle-aged residents is decreasing, while the number of young and elderly people is increasing. This is the demographic trend at work in many Western cities, including Milan, London and Paris. A polarization of the curve of inhabitants which must necessarily be taken into consideration by the administrators of urban centers who welcome new inhabitants full of energy, but cannot forget the old inhabitants, who have energy, provided they know the stimulate. The councilor for housing and neighborhood planning of the municipality of Milan, Pierfrancesco Maran, presents the challenge from the stage of the Franco Parenti Theater, at the opening of the Milan Longevity Summit, on March 25, promoted by the SoLongevity foundation. The summit began on March 14 and will conclude on March 27 at the State University.
Behaviors for aging well
You might think that a city of longevity is good for the elderly, and therefore not good for the young. In reality – explain the experts on stage – things are not like this. As Nicola Palmarini, director of Nica, points out, acronym National Center for Aging Innovation, the British government's center for studies on aging, in a Western society where the aging of the population constitutes one of the major challenges of the decades to come, it is important that this longevity is accompanied by good physical health and mental. Aging well is above all a question of behavior – given that most causes of death in Western countries arise from this – and therefore of education, which must start from an early age.
Nutrition
The starting point is the habit of a healthy and active life, both mentally and physically, which administrations must encourage through specific measures. These can be large or small, implemented by public or private individuals. An Oxford University study reported by Times, for example, showed that simply indicating nutritional values and including salads among the first dishes listed in delivery apps is enough to reduce the energy intake of the average meal ordered by customers by 200 kcal, which otherwise amounts to approximately 1,400 kcal. Regulation favoring this part could lead people who often order home delivery to have a healthier diet. The consequences of a poor diet may not appear at a young age, but often become apparent as age advances.
“A city for seniors is a city for everyone”
“No problem concerns only the elderly,” comments architect Stefano Boeri on this subject. Quite simply, continues the designer of the Vertical Forest, “in old age, the trials experienced by each person manifest themselves more clearly. For example, air quality which increases lung weakness, facilitating the spread of diseases like Covid, which in turn have a greater impact on the elderly. » One of the aspects on which we can act, recalls the architect, is that of urban greenery. Increasing forest cover and planting trees in cities allows us to absorb pollutants that poison the air. But also to reduce temperature peaks and retain water which otherwise risks flooding the streets. And you can get better results by choosing the right species. In addition, green spaces are often fundamental common spaces for taking action on an issue that affects young and old alike.
Fighting the loneliness epidemic: the example of Barcelona
Large urban areas concentrate many people in a small space. However, an ever-increasing number of people suffer from loneliness, especially young people and the elderly. The situation has worsened following the Covid-19 pandemic, so much so that a public epidemic has been declared in the United States. This is why experts are calling on administrators to help cities regain a sense of community. A successful attempt is that of Barcelona, believes the architect Josep Bohigas, who directs the urban planning of the Catalan city. In the Catalan capital, superblocks of nine blocks each have been created. Motor vehicle traffic by non-residents is only permitted outside the superblocks, thus allowing interior streets to be dedicated to neighborhood activities. “So even people from outside feel at home,” says Bohigas.
Roads for everyone
In Paris, we try to recreate a feeling of community by following the principles of the quarter-hour city. And even in Italy, some realities are trying to implement similar interventions, such as in Milan with the redevelopment of Viale Argonne. “There were complaints because some parking spaces were removed, but now you see people on the avenue who didn't even go out before: like elderly people, children and people with motor disabilities. “Longevity becomes the key to influencing all public policies,” comments Maran. Creating a sense of community also allows those who are no longer productive at work to not feel excluded from society. In the same spirit, Boeri suggests 'use school spaces as community spaces, when classes are not in progress.
A city of longevity leaves no one behind
“We live in a world where those who are not “productive” are stigmatized. We must act on this aspect to prevent those who are not included in a traditional way from feeling included and useful,” explains on stage François Sarközy, brother of former French President Nicolas, head of the health consultancy group FSNB. Concerning this last aspect, the municipality of Bergamo – the first Italian city to join the project City of longevity, followed by Cremona – implemented specific initiatives for older people. Among these, explains the mayor of Bergamo Giorgio Gori, there is Lisa, a program through which single elderly people receive a call every day from a telephone operator. Target? Just chat, find out how they're doing, and make sure no one feels left out and mortified by a society that often looks to the future without looking to those left behind.
On the cover: Sascha Kohlmann / Flicker | Old man at the tram stop
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