19 March 2024. “#Ageing: Barcelona, a city to grow old in”.

By: Ana Paricio Cárceles technician at the Urban Strategy Office of Barcelona Regional, Claudia Villazón Chávez technician at the Urban Strategy Office of Barcelona Regional and Conchi Berenguer Urrutia technician at the Architecture, Urban Planning and Landscape Area of Barcelona Regional.

Summary

Cities are becoming increasingly overcrowded. Currently in Barcelona, the elderly represents 21% of the city’s population and life expectancy at birth is already almost 84 years. The projections for 2046 are for 26% of people over 65 (almost 15% women).

This fact presents both challenges and opportunities. It forces us to rethink cities in an innovative and inclusive way to protect and promote citizens’ rights throughout all stages of people’s lives, especially the elderly. From this perspective, many issues are on the city’s agenda, such as housing, facilities, health, care, the use of time and community participation. It therefore involves promoting intersectoral and cross-cutting policies that cover all the issues involved in the well-being of older people.