Livable Communities: Opportunities for Successful Aging

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Livable Communities: Livable Communities: Opportunities for Successful Opportunities for Successful

AgingAging

Elinor Ginzler, Senior Vice President

Livable CommunitiesNovember 11, 2009

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AARP Social AARP Social Impact AgendaImpact Agenda

People 50+ will have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable for them and for society as a whole.

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AARP’s Definition AARP’s Definition of a Livable of a Livable CommunityCommunity

A livable community is one that has affordable and appropriate housing, supportive community features and services, adequate mobility options, which together facilitate personal independence and the engagement of residents in civic and social life.

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78.988.8

94.6

0102030405060708090

100

50-64 65-74 75+

Age

Per

cen

t Str

on

gly

/So

mew

hat

Ag

ree

“What I’d really like to do is remain in my local community for as long as possible.”

Source: AARP State of 50+ America Survey, October 2005

Age category: 50+

Base=910

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Do Communities Do Communities Support Successful Support Successful

Aging?Aging?The question is not “where will people move” but rather “as we grow older, will our community be ready for us, and will our housing support us?”

Can we age successfully in our home and community?

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Elements of a Elements of a Livable Livable

CommunityCommunity• Affordable and appropriate housing options• Supportive community features and services• Adequate mobility options• Personal independence is facilitated• Residents are engaged in civic and social life

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84.292.9 94.8

0102030405060708090

100

50-64 65-74 75+

Age

Pe

rce

nt

Str

on

gly

/So

me

wh

at

Ag

ree

“What I’d really like to do is remain in my home for as long as possible.”

Source: AARP State of 50+ America Survey, October 2005

Age category: 50+

Base=910

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Boomers are not as different as we might think:

79% want to stay in their homes for as long as possible 85% think it is likely they will be able to stay Changes to their living situation:

• 59% will move to a home all on one level• 34% will move closer to family/friends• 18% will move to retirement community• 12% will move IN with family/friends

Omnibus Survey AARP, September 2008

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AARP Policies AARP Policies for Aging in for Aging in

PlacePlaceLivable Communities Principle: Safe, decent housing that promotes independence and aging in place through home modification and repair…(through principles such as universal design, visitability and energy efficiency), and the use of innovative home products.

Specific policies that:Promote visitability features in government-funded housing and visitability ordinances Building codes should be required to include universal design.

http://www.aarp.org/issues/policies/policy_book/

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Why are UD and Why are UD and Visitability Visitability important?important?“Accessible housing increases housing opportunities

and choices for the elderly and persons with physical disabilities, and enhances convenience for non-disabled persons and children.”

“As the population trends toward an older demographic, visitability and universal design will increase in importance.”

Source: American Planning Association Policy Guide on Housing

11Courtesy Charlotte DOT

UD FeaturesUD Features


UD UD EntrywaysEntryways


UD Baths UD Baths and and KitchensKitchens


UD UD KitchenKitchen


UD BathUD Bath


UD UD EntrywayEntryway

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AARP Housing Policy promotes:

• The creation and preservation of affordable housing that meet the needs of an aging population

• Mixed-use development and locating housing within easy walking distance of shopping, recreation, public transportation, and services;

• Housing design that allows aging-in-place: Universal Design and Visitability

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Affordable Affordable Housing Housing Options…Options…

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Our Our Communities Communities

are are UnpreparedUnprepared

• 54% of American communities do not have the policies, programs or services in place to promote the quality of life, community engagement, and independent living of older adults (N4A survey of 10K local governments).

• 2/3 of planners and engineers have not yet begun considering the needs of older users in the multi-modal planning (AARP Public Policy Institute/ITE online survey of more than 1K planners & engineers, 2008).

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• Less than 1/3 of the 80 Complete Streets policies explicitly address the needs of older road users (AARP Public Policy Institute, 2009)

• “Complete streets are safer and more user-friendly for everyone and help people of all ages and abilities stay safely connected to their communities.” AARP

Continued…Continued…

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Older Adults Older Adults Report Report

Inhospitable Inhospitable RoadsRoads• 40% say they do not have adequate sidewalks in

their neighborhoods

• 47% say they cannot cross their main roads safely

• 54% of those living in inhospitable neighborhoods said they would walk and ride more often if conditions improved

• The majority support adoption of CS policies, with 56% expressing strong support

International Communications Research Poll for AARP, 1,000 adults age 50+, July 2008

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Mobility Mobility Options…Options…

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Older Driver / Older Driver / Pedestrian SafetyPedestrian Safety

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Community Community AssessmentAssessment

1. How would you grade your community for having well-run community centers, recreation centers, parks, and other places where older people can socialize?

2. How would you grade your community for having convenient places for you to participate in public meetings and events?

3. How would your grade your community for having ample opportunities to become a volunteer?

4. How would you grade your community for having dependable public transportation that you would use to get to the places you would like to go?

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5. How would you grade your community for having safe, well-designed sidewalks that can take you where you want to go?

6. How would you grade your community for having roads designed for safe driving, with clear and unambiguous signage, traffic stops and pedestrian crosswalks?

7. If you had difficulty walking or driving, how would you grade your community for having safe and convenient transportation options available to you, such as rides from friends or family or public transportation?

Assessment Continued…

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Longevity Paradox“Having invested so much to get

people to live longer, we’ve barely

given any thought to how we can

help them to live better.”

~Joe Coughlin, MIT AgeLab

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For More Information on Livable Communities visit:

www.aarp.orgor direct link

http://www.aarp.org/research/ppi/liv-com/

Livable Communities: Opportunities for Successful Aging

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