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Director's Message

June 2013 - Age Friendly Communities

I recently read an interesting report, the Community AGEnda, funded by Grantmakers in Aging, about the work that is being done across the U.S. to create age-friendly communities. What does it take to make a community a good place to grow old? How does Princeton fare as an age-friendly community? As our concept of aging is rapidly evolving, I believe it is time to explore these questions.

Many communities are unprepared to meet the needs of a rapidly growing older population, yet major changes are under way. It is anticipated that the population of people over age 65 will double by 2030. A significant majority (87%) of people state that they want to remain in their own homes, although many have dementia and chronic illnesses. Boomers have different expectations about aging, housing, work and recreation than their parents did. We know that community-based care is less costly than institutional care (thanks to family caregivers!). Many have not saved enough for their retirement years and public funding is shrinking. These sobering facts have enormous implications for our communities. We need to be seeking new, creative, progressive ways to meet these challenges. The Community AGEnda reports that “thought leaders now believe that the communities that fare best in the 21st century will be those that both tackle the challenges and embrace the positive possibilities that an aging population creates.” (Community AGEnda, April 2013)

The report identifies several issues that contribute to age-friendly communities:

Municipal and regional planning, with an emphasis on community and older adult input;
Housing and other building design, particularly affordable, adaptive/accessible housing and multi-generational options;
Social services, including meal delivery, adult day programs, and caregiver support, with a focus on meeting the changing needs of the frail, disabled, and homebound older people;
Transportation projects, including increased public transit and free or reduced-cost taxis and other rides, and promoting walkability and accessibility;
Health promotion, including community activities to enhance wellness and greater access to health, mental health, and home health care;
Civic engagement efforts, including intergenerational initiatives and opportunities for meaningful volunteering and paid work that benefit older people and people of all ages; and
Efforts to promote access to information, including an effective communication system reaching community residents of all ages and focusing on oral and printed communication accessible to older people.

I imagine you share my impression that Princeton does rather well on many of these issues and should meet the criteria for AARP’s “Livable Communities” and the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC). There are also areas I think we could improve, such as ensuring that these services are accessible to the diversity of this community.

The communities that are working toward being age-friendly share an “expressed desire to create places that support older adults and their families better, and enable older people to remain active, contributing members of their communities.” An age-friendly community benefits everyone. We need to re-think aging, recognizing that most older adults live healthy, active lives. They share their wisdom and time, building social capital. Promoting healthy lifestyles is important at any age, and many of the benefits of age-friendly communities improve quality of life for everyone.

We’ve seen various innovative initiatives that are part of this movement and which have spread nation-wide, including the Village to Village Network started in Beacon Hill, Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (Jewish Federation), AARP Livable Communities, among others. WHO provided critical leadership with its Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC).

What would it take to become a part of this network? First, it requires bringing together interested parties from non-profit organizations, government, community groups, planners and creative individuals of all ages. It might include conducting the AdvantAge Initiative survey and/or collaboration with funders and an established network. This core group would develop a vision that fits Princeton, engage those who need to be involved to achieve key objectives, and ensure sustainability over time.

A group of people from throughout Princeton met in 1996 at Future Search to engage in a similar process around aging issues. Their efforts contributed to the formation of Community Without Walls and the Elderlife Council, the revival of Crosstown transportation, expansion of low-income housing, and several initiatives at PSRC. Nearly 20 years later, it is time to do this again.

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Director's Message

June 2013 - Age Friendly Communities

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