IN-PERSON London. Section A

Abstract

Census projections estimate that by 2060, nearly one in four Americans will be over age 65, the number of 85-plus adults will triple, and the country will add a half million centenarians. Where will they live, and are cities prepared to handle the growing number of older adults aging in cities? These questions will be explored using case studies from three gentrified U.S. cities – Chicago (IL), New York City (NY), and Portland (OR) – examining the social, psychological, and health consequences among adults growing old in urban (and gentrifying) places. Increasingly, we find that older adults desire, yet lack third places for fostering social engagement with others and cultivating a sense of belonging. Additionally, lower-income and minoritized older adults face additional challenges tied to affordability and displacement that warrant further investigation. Findings will be discussed alongside global, national, and regional policies, and highlight evolving trends for lower-income adults (e.g., evictions, displacement).