Main description:

This book looks at the relationships between the physical-social environment and the elderly in Europe and Latin America, from the Environmental Gerontology perspective and through geographical and psychosocial approaches. It addresses the main environmental issues of population ageing, based on an understanding of the complex relationships, adjustments and adaptations between different environments (home, residence, public spaces, landscapes, neighbourhoods, urban and rural environment) and the quality of life of the ageing population, associated with residential strategies and other aspects related to health and dependency. The different levels of socio-spatial analysis are also explored: macro (urban and rural environments, regions and landscapes), meso (neighbourhood, public space) and micro (personal, home and institution). New theoretical and methodological approaches are proposed to analyse the attributes and functions of the physical-social environment of the elderly, as well as new ways of living the ageing process. All will have to respond to the challenges of urbanisation, globalisation and climate change in the 21st century. Also, the different experiences and challenges of public planning and management professionals involved with the growing ageing population are presented, and will require greater association and collaboration with the academic and scientific fields of Environmental Gerontology.

Contents:

Part I: Policies and Perspectives International on Aging and Environment: Chapter 1: Introduction to Environmental Gerontology in Europe and Latin America: Vicente Rodriguez-Rodriguez and Diego Sanchez-Gonzalez.- Chapter 2: Demographic Aging in the context of Globalization: Hania Zlotnik.- Chapter 3: Aging, Mobility and Migration International perspectives: Vicente Rodriguez-Rodriguez.- Chapter 4: Environment, Health and Aging in Latin America: Maria Victoria Zunzunegui.- Chapter 5: Environment, Health and Ageing: George W. Leeson.- Chapter 6: Adjustments to Physical-social environment of the elderly to Climate Change. Proposals from Environmental Gerontology: Diego Sanchez-Gonzalez and Rosalia Chavez-Alvarado.- Part II: Aging and the Urban and Rural Environments; Chapter 7: Residential Environment in Spain in a European Context: Conditions of Life and Satisfaction in Old Age: Gloria Fernandez-Mayoralas and Fermina Rojo-Perez.- Chapter 8: The Right Place to Grow old? Suburban Environments and the Elderly: Theresa D. Garvin.- Chapter 9: Spatial Practices of Older Adults in Rural Environment: Felipe Vazquez-Palacios.- Part III: Place, Housing and Aging: Chapter 10: Identity of Place, Public Space and the Elderly: Aurora Carcia-Ballesteros and Beatrice Jimenez-Blanco.- Chapter 11: Identity, Attachment and Root in Aging: Alejandro Klein.- Chapter 12: New residential Ways for Seniors: Sylvie Coupleux-Vanmeirhaeghe.- Chapter 13: Housing and the Environment on Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean: Veronica de Oca, Sagrario Garay and Mirna Hebrero.- Part IV: Public Policies, Planning and Practices on Built Environment and Aging: Chapter 14: Public policies in Housing, Environment and Aging in Latin America: Maria Elena Acosta-Maldonado.- Chapter 15: Built Environment Planning, Institutions and Aging in Latin America: Luiz Sergio Valente-Tomasini and Sergio Antonio Carlos.