Mobility is one of the most important requirements for preserving social integration and quality of life of the elderly. Their active participation in social life is increasingly jeopardized through the possible loss of function of the senses, through the rising prevalence of chronic illness or through the lack of social or material resources. The spatial environment is rarely suited to the needs of the elderly, and unfavourable technological conditions reduce their living space further. Until now, where research in mobility is concerned, there has been a lack of information about the real needs of the elderly. For example: Is the observed decrease in mobility an autonomous choice? Is it the result of reduced physical abilities, or increasing psychological or social problems ? Is it caused by spatial barriers or insufficient and not appropriate transport facilities (private cars and public transport) ? And last but not least, what role can technology play to overcome the gap between the elderly and their environment and new urban organization? With this book an attempt is made to answer these questions from a new multi-dimensional and multi-disciplinary perspective by comparing the ideas and proposals of experts from different cultural backgrounds and various specializations (sociologists, engineers, experts from transportation and car companies, psychologists, and experts in gerontechnology). These answers were given in two initiatives whose papers are included in the volume. The first one was an expert meeting and open conference, organized by INRCA (Italian National Research Centre on Ageing), on "Urban Traffic And Mobility: European Proposals For Elderly And Disabled People" which was held in Ancona (Italy) on 19th May 1995. The aim was to improve the system of traffic, means of transport and generally the "quality of urban life" by comparing the different experiences and proposals put forward on a European level. The conference which was attended by more than three hundred people - citizens, experts, and decision makers - was closely followed by the press. The second occasion was the workshop on "Keeping The Elderly Mobile - Technological support and future possibilities in the field of transport andcommunication in regard to mobility of older people" which was organized at the Social Science Research Centre (WZB) in Berlin, Germany, on 28th and 29th June 1996. With this workshop, a group of qualified experts in the field of transport and the elderly discussed on a smaller but none the less efficient scale diverse research approaches, technological developments, practice realizations, and experiences from various European countries. An additional objective was to discuss the theoretical approach and initial findings from the COST A5 project "Keeping the elderly mobile - technology to meet their outdoor mobility needs" with other European research groups, practitioners, and industry. This project, inclusive findings from Finland, Italy, and Germany, is also presented in this volume.
Samenvatting