Others feel the physical changes of growing old at an earlier age, experiencing a variety of symptoms. The bottom line is that the environment must be designed in ways that accommodate people with a wide range of capabilities. In responding to one recognized need, it is also important to avoid creating problems for people with different limitations. For example, while a ramp may be essential for some to get into a building, the same ramp may present a problem to a person using a walker. For that person, a series of steps deep enough for the walker is a better solution.
Emphasis also needs to be placed on the idea of developing linkages.
For example, a state of the art bathroom facility in a senior center will be of little value if a person in a wheelchair cannot get into the building because of a gravel-topped parking lot. In order to identify linkages, it is necessary to put oneself in the place of a person who will use the environment. Planning for an aging society also involves reexamining some important aspects, such as housing and transportation, from the perspective of the older adult. Housing It is widely believed that when people need an increased level of care the best solution is to have them move out of their house and into a facility where they can receive this care. The reality, however, is that older people prefer to stay put.