An estimated 21% of the inhabitants of Philadelphia – or around 329,000 people based on a 2022 estimation through the US Census Bureau – are on or older than 60.
But although many older residents of the city express the desire to get older, cities – like many other areas – are usually not built with the needs of older residents in mind.
‘[P]Eople could be confronted with problems with transport, higher rents and gaps in social support, “said the report.
Changing that requires better coordination between cities, local resources, city programs, educational opportunities and socialization options according to outdated lawyers and seniors.
“As seniors we are all really in the same place” Energy coordination agency In a Whyy interview. “We talked about insulation, but sometimes the insulation here is in our minds, because we don’t know if we don’t have access to other seniors.”
Insulation and loneliness are important problems with which older Americans get older in their own house. Some cities, such as New York, are aimed at combating this with technology and report some success. Others aim to create new technologies, specifically to promote connections between older adults and friends or family more easily.
But cities can do more, according to perspectives that were shared during a recent local event in the Parkway Central Library of the city organized earlier this week by Whyy.
During the event Harmon said that the eye opening was to hear about the types of resources that older residents just don’t know that they have access.
“I was surprised when I spoke to people who were not aware of social security and the rules for medicine or other things that we are at the moment in our lives,” she told the outlet. “I am walking away today to know that I am not alone.”
“Sometimes the problem can not amount to not knowing what kind of help or support exists,” said the report. “During Tuesday’s event, Harmon shared that the non -profit she works for helps people to lose utilities such as heat due to payment problems or broken systems.”
The outlet will hold another dedicated event about aging in the city on March 18 in the Cobbs Creek Library and March 25 in the Lawncrest Library, and interested residents of Philadelphia can do that Register online for them.
