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There are many resources available to assist in creating communities that are livable for older people. We have highlighted here the most recent and the most relevant publications. For a more comprehensive listing, check out ICMA’s Resource List: Sustainable Planning for Aging in Place, listed below.
Sustainable Communities for All Ages: A Viable Futures Toolkit
Just Partners, Inc., 2007
This comprehensive, user-friendly resource turns the challenges of an aging population into opportunities for all ages to thrive. Developed in partnership with ICMA, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, and other national associations, the kit offers guidance to planners, policymakers, service providers, funders, and even families about how to craft solutions for older generations that simultaneously address needs of younger generations and their communities. www.viablefuturestoolkit.org
Aging in Place: A Toolkit for Local Governments
Community Housing Resource Center Atlanta and Atlanta Regional Commission
Aging in Place describes three components—health care, environment, and planning and zoning— that are essential to an aging in place strategy. The toolkit describes how implementing measures for older people to age in place is a cost-effective option to address the shift in demographics and why these strategies are beneficial to aging individuals and their families who live in these communities. www.atlantaregional.com/cps/rde/xbcr/arc/Aging_In_Place_Tool.pdf
Resource List: Sustainable Planning for Aging in Place
ICMA, 2006
This resource list is designed to help local governments get up to speed quickly on the issues and tools that will ensure that older adults enjoy a high quality of life today and into the future. Includes information about national organizations, newsletters and listservs, reports and fact sheets, funding, and conferences. icma.org/main/ld.asp?ldid=19657&hsid=10&tpid=13&stid=29
Beyond 50.05: Creating Environments for Successful Aging
AARP, 2005
This AARP report focuses on how the physical and social environment influences the quality of life for aging adults. It highlights specific community features that can encourage older adults to be active and civically involved, and recommends ways that leaders can implement these elements in their communities. A supplemental evaluation guide will help residents, advocates, and local leaders identify areas of success and potential opportunities for improvement in their community.
www.aarp.org/research/housing-mobility/indliving/beyond_50_communities.html
Maturing of America: Getting Communities on Track for an Aging Population
Five national organizations joined together to survey thousands of local governments on their “aging readiness” in areas ranging from health and nutrition to workforce development and citizen engagement. The resulting report, published in 2006, finds that less than half of American cities and counties have plans in place to meet the needs of aging baby boomers. In addition to the survey results, the report includes examples of innovative programs being implemented by local governments that responded to the survey. www.icma.org/main/ld.asp?from=search&ldid=20126&hsid=1
2005 Livable Communities for All Ages Competition: Case Studies
Center for Home Care Policy & Research, 2005
This report presents case studies of the recipients of the most Livable Communities Award for All Ages by the U.S. Administration on Aging. It describes each winning community in detail and how local governments have engaged in certain practices to ensure livability for all its residents, which can be transferable to other local governments across the nation. www.vnsny.org/research/aoacompetition/download/LC_Booklet_FINAL.pdf
Aging in Place and Smart Growth – Issue Summary
ICMA and the Smart Growth Network, 2005
Smart growth strategies provide significant advantages for older adults: transportation choices, healthy environments, affordable housing opportunities, access to services, social interaction, and more. Advocates for older adults have traditionally focused on critical individual needs for enhancing quality of life. As the retirement age for the baby boom generation edges nearer, however, community-wide livability is increasingly being recognized as a more sustainable way to enhance quality of life for more people over time. This issue summary highlights trends facing communities with older residents, and offers smart growth strategies that communities can use to deal with these trends. www.icma.org/sgn/libdetail.cfm?id=19340
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Aging Initiative
The EPA initiative focuses on protecting the environmental health for older adults. One project is the development of the National Agenda for the Environment and the Aging, which prioritizes environmental stressors that affect older Americans, promotes smart growth as a way to protect the environment and to prepare communities for aging boom, and encourages older adults to be involved in addressing the environmental quality of their communities. This Web site provides fact sheets and reports on how to address each of the Agenda’s priority issues, profiles best practices on efforts to improve the environmental health of older persons, and contains relevant news on the topic of aging and the environment. www.epa.gov/aging/index.htm
Active Living for Older Adults: Management Strategies for Healthy and Livable Communities
ICMA, 2003
This report highlights the health, economic, and social benefits of active living for communities, specifically for older adults. The report serves as a guide to help local government managers and leaders implement active living strategies through land use planning, transportation, and housing efforts, and by building public awareness and support. www.icma.org/main/ld.asp?ldid=17010&hsid=1&tpid=31
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