The implications of these trends are profound. The proportional increase in older Americans will place considerable stress on family members, friends and neighbors who take on a care-giving role, but often need to balance this responsibility with their own careers and child rearing. It is not clear who will take care of the many seniors who cannot rely on this kind of assistance. Distant relatives will probably be called into service as will social service agencies. With fewer workers paying into the social security system, resources will be strapped.
Suburbs are notoriously dependent on the automobile for mobility.
This combined with a preponderance of single family residences suggests that many older adults will have a difficult time adjusting to the aging process. In fact, older adults face a bleak future unless we begin reshaping our communities to be supportive of continued independence and well-being. The Challenge for Planners Planning for our aging society requires an understanding of the physical changes associated with the aging process and how these changes affect a person's ability to negotiate the built environment. For example, as one becomes older, the lens of the eye becomes less flexible. This loss of elasticity reduces the ability to see objects close at hand.