It is time to face our responsibility and moral obligation to end labeling and include all bodies in our design intent. No one person likes to be labeled. Millennials hate their label and seniors feel like their assigned nomenclature means they are automatically excluded.
It is the age of inclusion and while we are in this dialogue, let's look at all of our labels as a society.
The "us versus them" mentality doesn't work for us any longer. We are all the same. We all want to be valuable members of society and our communities. Remember that those over the age of 65 will outnumber those under the age of 18 within the next ten years. Instead of pushing our sage employees out of the workplace, they become our mentors. We design communities to contain this group but not all people want or need to live with same age individuals. Personal interaction with all walks of life keeps everyone sharp and aware.
I believe the new terms is "curating a lifestyle" that speaks to living, working, shopping, playing and generally appreciating a mix of all necessities. Now that we have all felt the impact of social isolation, let's apply that to taking care of those who need our attention. This includes provisions of success for all. We know what contributes to well-being: access to nature, those who support us, and supporting others.
Are you ready to curate a lifestyle of inclusion?