On Sunday, July 19, AIANY Design for Aging Committee was invited to participate in a forum in Taiwan on age-friendly housing and health promotion called “Towards Healthy Residential Environments for All.” It was co-organized by Health & Sustainable Development Foundation and Foundation of Universal Design Education in collaboration with the International Union for Health Promotion & Education (IUHPE). The program aimed to shape a common ground on what matters in healthy aging and what to consider in developing age-friendly housing.

Susan Wright, AIA, from the AIANY Design for Aging Committee shared her insight of independent living and age-friendly housing in the panel. She presented a case study of seven recent examples of housing an aging population in New York City, aging in place renovation and technology. She also demonstrated the Aging in Place Guide for Building Owners collaborated by the NYC Department for the Aging and AIANY Design for Aging Committee. Her presentation triggered many discussions and provided a different view and approach for the audiences in Taiwan. (Watch both presentations below!)

Other presenters, including expertises from the local government agency, architectural industry, health care providers and educational institutes, talked about the public health focused strategies. They’ve also shared progresses, including successes and failures, in age-friendly housing initiatives in Taiwan. Around 200 participants attended this full day program to explore many more possibilities to support active aging, social participation and health equity.