This book looks at the relationships between the physical-social
environment and the elderly in Europe and Latin America, from the
Environmental Gerontology perspective and through geographical and
psychosocial approaches. It addresses the main environmental issues of
population ageing, based on an understanding of the complex
relationships, adjustments and adaptations between different
environments (home, residence, public spaces, landscapes,
neighbourhoods, urban and rural environment) and the quality of life of
the ageing population, associated with residential strategies and other
aspects related to health and dependency. The different levels of
socio-spatial analysis are also explored: macro (urban and rural
environments, regions and landscapes), meso (neighbourhood, public
space) and micro (personal, home and institution). New theoretical and
methodological approaches are proposed to analyse the attributes and
functions of the physical-social environment of the elderly, as well as
new ways of living the ageing process. All will have to respond to the
challenges of urbanisation, globalisation and climate change in the 21st
century. Also, the different experiences and challenges of public
planning and management professionals involved with the growing ageing
population are presented, and will require greater association and
collaboration with the academic and scientific fields of Environmental
Gerontology.