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All Southeast Asian populations are ageing, some very swiftly. The countries' urban and rural environments are also changing rapidly, often in ways that inhibit older persons from getting out-and-about with ease, safety, and confidence. Southeast Asian countries vary in specific features, such as built and communication environments, public transportation and traffic flow, crowding in public spaces, services for older and disabled persons, and heat/pollution/rain. But all are encountering simultaneous ageing and infrastructure change.
The central topic of the conference which is to be held in Singapore on 24 -26 May 2006, is activities that older people want to do away from home, but have trouble doing because of access problems. The conference joins social science and architecture/design in ways that can help development of policies for older and disabled persons so they achieve their wishes of productive activity and social integration.
The conference themes are:
a) Activities that older persons in Southeast Asia expect and want to do in late life
b) What activities they actually do each day or regularly
c) What they do not do because of perceived or experienced barriers outside their home
d) How assistive devices and transportation services in urban and rural places inhibit or facilitate older people doing away-from-home activities, including health care visits
e) How features of public spaces (buildings, walkways, parks, shopping areas, noise, pollution, etc.) inhibit or facilitate older people in their away-from-home activities
f) How public places, transportation services, assistive devices, and housing structures can be designed to help older persons' accomplish their needs and wishes for away-from-home activities
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