Portland State Magazine Winter 2008

12 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE WINTER 2008 Age-friendly Portland WRI TTEN BY KATHRYN KIRK LAND FROM ISTANBUL to Rio de Janeiro to Portland, older people are asking for the same things: to be respected, to be included, and to have suitable and affordable housing. The needs of older adults in 33 cities across 22 countries are candidly revealed in "Age-Friendly Cities: A Guide," recencly published by the World Health Organiza– tion (WHO). Porcland was the only U.S. city to participate in the project, thanks to research conducted by PSU Prof. Margaret Neal, directo r of the PSU Institute on Aging, and doctoral student Alan DelaTorre. The guide is aimed to advise city and regional agencies and governments around cl1e globe as iliey strive to make their cities and services more age-friendly.