Creating Environments

for Successful Aging

Jana Lynott, AICP

Strategic Policy Advisor

Transportation/Livable Communities

AARP Public Policy Institute

Every 11 Seconds a Boomer Turns 60

Source: Getting Current: Recent Demographic Trends in Metropolitan America,

Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institute, 2009.

The Age Wave is Coming

and it will hit harder in Hawaii

80%

100%

120%

140%

160%

180%

200%

220%

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030

Po

pu

lati

on

(%

of

2000 C

en

su

s)

85+ 75-84

65-74 50-64

Projected Growth in the Older Population in Hawaii as a Percentage

of 2000 Census, by Age Group, 2000-2030

Houser, Fox-Grage, Gibson (2009). Across the States 2009: Profiles of Long-Term

and Independent Living. Washington, DC: AARP Public Policy Institute.

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

Our Communities are Unprepared

• 54% of American communities do not have the policies,

programs or services in place to promote quality of life,

community engagement, and independent living of older

adults (N4A survey of 10K local governments, 2006).

• 2/3 of transportation planners and engineers have not yet

begun considering the needs of older users in their multi-

modal planning (AARP Public Policy Institute/ITE online

survey of more than 1K planners and engineers, 2008).

Safety on America’s streets is

a major concern for older

adults

• 40% say they do not have adequate

sidewalks in their neighborhoods

• 47% say they cannot cross their main

roads safely

International Communications Research Poll for

AARP, 1,000 adults, July 2008

6

Hawaii’s Roads are Particularly

Hazardous to Older Pedestrians (65+)

Source: NHTSA, FARS Encyclopedia, 2005

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Total

Population

Motor

Vehicle

Fatalities

Pedestrian

Fatalities

Hawaii

US

Are falls a

planning

problem?

• Fall-related deaths and

hospitalizations are more

than double those for motor

vehicles injuries for the 65+

• Falls cost Hawaii

$10,600/fall in direct medical

and long-term care costs.

• Falls account for 68% of

hospitalizations for 65+ pop

• Almost half occur away

outside the home

Mobility:

Americans 50+ are able to sustain mobility as they age

Housing:Americans 50+ have appropriate and affordable housing options

Livable Communities

Photo by Jana Lynott

Photo by Jana Lynott

Livable Communities—

Principles & Solutions

• Choice

• Affordability

• Accessibility

Increasing Home Access:

Designing for Visitability

Authors:

Jordana L. Maisel & Edward SteinfeldCenter for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on

Universal Design at Buffalo

School of Architecture and Planning

University at Buffalo

&

Eleanor SmithConcrete Change

College Park/ LeMoyne Gardens

Photo courtesy of Torti Gallas and Associates

Visitability Features

One zero step entrance, located at the front, back, or side of the

house, on an accessible path of travel

32 inch clear opening at doorways and accessible circulation

throughout the floor plan

Basic access to at least one bath or half bath on the ground floor

Step-less entrance Bathroom access

Accessible circulation

February 9-17th, 2009

Atlanta, Georgia

Key Findings

• Lifelong Communities must embrace tenets of Urbanism—connected network of streets and sidewalks, services located near housing, housing and transportation choices.

• Current accessibility regulations (ADA & Fair Housing Act) do not meet needs

• Need new rules based on performance rather than compliance

Social Interaction

Land Use

Policy• Coordination of

housing, transportation & service decisions

• Mixed-use within easy walking distance of shopping, recreation, public transportation & services

• TOD

Photo credit: City of Boulder Planning Dept.

• Outliving our driving years− At age 70 – men outlive by 7 years and women

outlive by 10 years

• Stranded without options− 6.8 million non-drivers 65+

− 54% stay home

AARP’s Mobility Agenda:

Access to Transportation

Some Statistics:

• Fixed-route public transportation– Travel training

− Travel experience

• Specialized Services− Paratransit

− Non-emergency medical transportation

− ―Senior Ride‖

− Volunteer transportation services

− Rideshare programs

− Taxi service

− Rural Transportation

AARP’s Mobility Agenda:

Access to Transportation

Family of Travel Choices

Transit Solutions

• ―Complete Streets‖ = Roads safe for all

users

– Pedestrians/motorists/bicyclists/transit riders

• Road design features to promote safety

− Intersections – lanes and signals

− Pavement markings

− Signage and font size

− Lighting

AARP’s Mobility Agenda:

The Travel Environment

Farmers Markets and

Community Gardens—

A working and social space

Discussion Questions

1. Is your home designed with basic ―visitable‖ access features (zero step entrance, wide doorways, restroom on main floor)?

2. What changes are needed to our zoning ordinance and housing code to allow visitable homes to be built?

3. How prepared is our community for an aging population?

4. What other challenges can we address at the local government level to improve our livability for all ages?