Another implication of this study is that Lowell will be more age-friendly if older adults feel safe enough to walk around the City. The safer it is for people to walk in the community, the more willing people are to walk. In terms of walkability, the high score Lowell has of 77 suggest that Lowell is age-friendly as it is very walkable; however, there are improvements that can be made to the pedestrian environment to encourage walking in Lowell. Sidewalks need to be made more walkable; there needs to be more lighting at night; during snow weather, plowing the sidewalks should be prioritized; public transportation should be more reliable, affordable and frequent; specialized transportation should be made available for disabled people; bus stops and stations should be made more convenient, more frequent and more safe; pedestrian crossings should be sufficient in number and safe for people with different levels and types of disability, with nonslip markings, visual and audio cues and adequate crossing times; cycle paths should be made separate from pavements and other pedestrian walkways. Steps like this can ensure a community is more age-friendly and more walkable.
Housing …show more content…
Statistics show that elder citizens living alone in the state of Massachusetts generally need $27,048 to cover living expenses (Filipov, 2012). However, the average income for that group is $16,800, which is the widest gap in the country (Filipov, 2012). For this reason, strategies to make Lowell more age-friendly will need to include housing as well as other community and structural
Housing …show more content…
Statistics show that elder citizens living alone in the state of Massachusetts generally need $27,048 to cover living expenses (Filipov, 2012). However, the average income for that group is $16,800, which is the widest gap in the country (Filipov, 2012). For this reason, strategies to make Lowell more age-friendly will need to include housing as well as other community and structural