Public spaces allow people to meet on ostensibly neutral ground, within the context of the whole community. Social interactions in urban public places draws on a unique study of nine public spaces within one English town viewed across a whole year, carried out by a large team of local observers working alongside academics. The report describes the use of green spaces, commercial and civic spaces, and local neighbourhoods; investigates interactivity within and between people of different age groups; highlights self-regulation as an essential element of the management of public spaces; considers the role of reputation in perceptions of particular places and discusses public involvement in regeneration and the democratising role of public places. Good quality public spaces are integral to 'Cleaner, Safer, Greener', 'Sustainable Communities' and 'Community Cohesion' policies. Yet many public spaces are subject to competition between different users, of different ages, with conflicting ideas about their appropriate use. The study will be of interest to policy makers, practitioners and academics concerned with public space, community cohesion, community involvement, and intergenerational relationships, and anyone interested in the social life of towns.

The housing problems of older people in our society are highly topical because of the growing number of retired people in the population and, especially, the yet-to-come increasing number of 'very old' people. Government policies on the care of older people have been forthcoming from Whitehall, but the issue of housing is just beginning to be seriously addressed. This book represents a first attempt at bringing together people from the worlds of architecture, social science and housing studies to look at the future of living environments for an ageing society. Projecting thinking into the future, it asks critical questions and attempts to provide some of the answers. It uniquely moves beyond the issues of accommodation and care to look at the wider picture of how housing can reflect the social inclusion of people as they age. Inclusive housing in an ageing society will appeal to a wide audience - housing, health and social care workers including: housing officers, architects, planners and designers, community regeneration workers, care managers, social workers and social care assistants, registered managers and housing providers, health improvement staff and, of course, current and future generations of older people.

As the drive towards creating age-friendly cities grows, this important book provides a comprehensive survey of theories and policies aimed at improving the quality of life of older people living in urban areas. In this book, part of the Ageing in a Global Context series, leading international researchers critically assess the problems and the potential of designing age-friendly environments. The book considers the different ways in which cities are responding to population ageing, the different strategies for developing age-friendly communities, and the extent to which older people themselves can be involved in the co-production of age-friendly policies and practices. The book includes a manifesto for the age-friendly movement, focused around tackling social inequality and promoting community empowerment.

Americans today confront an array of challenges in their efforts to achieve and maintain financial security. Financial literacythe ability to use knowledge and skills to manage financial resources effectively -- has thus become increasingly important. Experts have identified the workplace as a potentially effective venue for providing financial education and helping individuals improve their financial decision making. This book discusses the role of the employer in promoting financial literacy; the effectiveness of such efforts; how best to serve low-income and other underserved populations; and the federal government's role in supporting these efforts. The book also discusses needs and priorities in improving financial literacy; roles and responsibilities of, and collaboration among, the government, nonprofit, and private sectors; lessons learned from federal public health and nutrition literacy initiatives; and the Government Accountability Office's potential role in addressing financial literacy issues.