ABSTRACT
The rapid increase in the ageing population has become a global phenomenon. Over the next three decades, the ‘baby boomers’ will enter their 60s, and, by 2050, the global population will reach a peak of 20 billion (WHO 2007). According to the United Nations (UN), this increase will be greatest and most rapid in developing countries, where the older population is expected to quadruple. Rapid declines in both the fertility and mortality rates also result in disproportionate changes within the population. These demographic trends are creating new challenges for our urban and rural environments. To address these challenges, cross-disciplinary research between medical, social and spatial sciences is required.
