'Growing Older in Urban Environments: Perspectives from Japan and the UK’

The aim of the Symposium will be to examine the impact of demographic change on major cities in Japan and the UK, many of whom will have populations of 30 per cent or more aged 60 and over by 2020. The ageing of urban populations will present a major challenge for areas such as: transportation; technology; design and planning; housing; and the organisation of health and social care. The Symposium will bring together researchers and policy makers from both countries involved in developing new approaches to improving the quality of life of older people living in urban environments. The Symposium will draw upon case studies from the World Health Organisation's 'Age Friendly Cities' programme which has active involvement from cities in Japan and the UK:

The Symposium will be organised around four main themes:

* State of the art reviews of research in Japan and the UK on urbanisation and ageing populations

* Case studies of initiatives designed to improve the 'age friendliness' of urban environments

* Assessment of the main policy challenges around urbanisation and ageing.

* Potential research collaborations between Japan and the UK on ageing and the urban environment (workshops).

Location: Church House Conference Centre, London

Date: 28th - 29th March 2011

Economic and Social Research Council/Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science/International Longevity Centre