This paper develops the argument that post-COVID-19 recovery strategies need to focus on
building backfairercities and communities, and that this requires a
strong embedding of ‘age-friendly’ principles to support marginalised
groups of older people, especially those living in deprived urban neighbourhoods, trapped
in poor quality housing. It shows that older people living in such areas are likely to
experience a ‘double lockdown’ as a result of restrictions imposed by social distancing
combined with the intensification of social and spatial inequalities. This argument is
presented as follows: first, the paper examines the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 onolder people, highlighting how the pandemic is both creating new and
reinforcing existing inequalities in ageing along the lines of gender, class, ethnicity,
race, ability and sexuality. Second, the paper explores the role ofspatial
inequalitiesin the context of COVID-19, highlighting how the pandemic is
having a disproportionate impact on deprived urban areas already affected by cuts to
public services, the loss of social infrastructure and pressures on the voluntary sector.
Finally, the paper examines howinterrelated social inequalities at both the
individual and spatial levelare affecting the lives of older people living in
deprived urban neighbourhoods during the pandemic. The paper concludes by developing six
principles for ‘age-friendly’ community recovery planning aimed at maintaining and
improving the quality of life and wellbeing of older residents in the post-pandemic
city.