Conference Presentation, Panel
Smart Cities for Healthy Aging
- Demographic shifts are expected to create a significantly older urban population over the coming decades, with projections indicating that 60% of the population may face severe economic stress by age 80 within approximately 15 years.
- Generational expectations are predicted to evolve rapidly, with millennials reaching 50+ in 10 years and digital natives becoming the mainstream market for city infrastructure in about 20 years, necessitating a shift from current technological strategies.
- Infrastructure deployment and policy changes are anticipated to require generational timeframes, often taking a full generation to implement new systems at a city or state level, with challenges in scaling administrative workflows beyond successful pilot programs.
- Housing and transportation strategies include goals to construct 69,000 new residential units in Boston by 2030 and the potential reduction of private car ownership and parking lots, which may free up space for community centers.
- The healthcare and caregiving sector faces a scalability crisis regarding current informal family care, which is projected to drive significant job creation in caregiving and new industries, alongside persistent issues like missed appointments affecting patient outcomes.
- Technological integration is viewed as critical for urban strategy, with an explicit need for AI, 5G, and smart things strategies to support aging populations, while specific innovations like "Uber Assist" and "Uber Wave" aim to address transportation barriers for older adults.
- Social dynamics are expected to see a resurgence in intergenerational living, with the highest incidence in the US since the 1920s currently occurring, presenting opportunities for cross-generational support and technology adoption.
- Financial and social risks include a potential polarization of financial equity in cities regarding access to resources, and the likelihood that current assumptions about older adults' technological comfort or the value of their homes may be incorrect.
- Strategic approaches to smart cities require a shift from national-scale "boil-the-ocean" challenges to city-level initiatives, emphasizing the need for bipartisan collaboration and the inclusion of technology vendors in broad policy discussions.
- Future initiatives, such as the upcoming Boston Uber Initiative scheduled for launch within a month, are intended to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating shared mobility and technology solutions into existing city frameworks.