Place is inextricably linked to longevity, and a wellbeing mindset is a crucial part of the longevity puzzle. As planners, human geographers, stakeholder engagement experts, and government officials we have a significant role to play to apply our knowledge to planning our cities, regions and communities for the longevity and wellbeing of older people.

Considering the experiences of all people, and being inclusive in the way we plan and design is essential. We need to not just plan for ourselves and our own preferences, but think about all people, and include them in the design process from the start. If we don’t design inclusively, we are designing for a narrow portion of the population and further entrenching  our inherent biases and the status quo. 

Planning and designing better places includes designing for neurodiversity, and is an important step to a more inclusive and considerate world.