On the Radar

Aging and Livable Communities

The Aging of America provides an extraordinary opportunity for planners to create plans and policies and help develop and redevelop communities that are more age friendly ... and, therefore, more livable. According to Deborah Howe, Baby Boomers "will swell the ranks of those aged 65-plus from 34.8 million in 2000 to a projected 70.3 million in 2030, ultimately representing 20 percent of the U.S. population."

In this current environment, where livability principles and sustainable communities constitute a priority for the administration, the Divisions Council can take the lead in galvanizing planners to apply the aging filter to planning initiatives and opportunities.

Divisions are rich in knowledge resources and expertise that can help guide the fundamental transformation to communities that are livable for all. Divisions can help frame this transformation rooted in the unique needs of place and community.

If you are interested in contributing to this effort, please contact Ramona Mullahey at ramona.mullahey@hud.gov.

Aging in Place Bibliography

This online resource is designed for planners and researchers seeking an interdisciplinary, annotated bibliography of pertinent literature about Americans' growing desire to remain in their homes and participate in their communities as they age.

This list highlights articles, events, and publications from the American Planning Association and other experts in the field.

Annotated Bibliography on Aging in Place

Recent Reports on Planning and Aging

Housing an Aging Population — Are We Prepared?

A report from the Center for Housing Policy explores the effects of this coming demographic change on the demand for housing, the challenge of providing meaningful housing choices for older adults of all incomes, and the policies that could help communities across the country respond to the dual challenges of providing older adults with affordable housing and adequate services.

Read the full report

Aging in Place:  A State Survey of Livability Policies and Practices

The vast majority of older adults want to continue to live in their own homes or communities. This report examines state policies that are needed to help older adults age in place. These policies include integrating land use, housing and transportation; efficiently delivering services in the home; providing more transportation choices, particularly for older adults who no longer drive; and improving affordable, accessible housing to prevent social isolation.

Research Report: Aging in Place

In Brief: Aging in Place

Webcast: AARP Solutions Forum

Planning for Multi-Generational Communities

The needs of children and the aging population are linked in a number of ways. These needs are not adequately addressed within many communities, but those that have addressed them have benefited both socially and economically.

Using Smart Growth and Universal Design to Link the Needs of Children and the Aging Population, 2011.

Multigenerational Planning: Linking the Needs of Children and Elders, April 2010.

U.S. Communities Struggle to Keep Up With Needs of Aging Population

A new report from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging reveals that communities have, at best, managed to maintain the status quo for the past six years because of the decline in the overall economy and local government budgets.

Maturing of America II: Executive Summary (pdf)

Maturing of America II: Full Report (pdf)

Aging in Place, Stuck Without Options

Aging in Place, Stuck Without Options, an analysis by the Center for Neighborhood Technology, shows that in just four years, 90 percent of seniors in metro Atlanta will live in neighborhoods with poor access to options other than driving, the worst ranking among metro areas with populations over 3 million. In that size category, metro Atlanta is followed by Riverside-San Bernardino, California, along with Houston, Detroit, and Dallas. Kansas City tops the list for metros of 1 million to 3 million, followed by Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, Nashville, and Raleigh-Durham.

Aging in Place, Stuck Without Options: Full Report (pdf)

Aging and Smart Growth

Deborah Howe of Portland State University posits that the sprawling, automobile-dominated landscape prevalent throughout the U.S. seriously limits the continued mobility and independence of older people. In this article she advocates transforming our communities so that they are aging-sensitive, making it possible for people to maintain their health and independence even as needs change.

Source: Funders Network for Smart Growth and Communities, Translation Paper Number 7, December 2001

National Planning Conference Sessions

Sessions from previous APA National Planning Conferences are available for purchase as Virtual Sessions.

Session S494: Creating Aging-Friendly Communities (2011)

As baby boomers transform national demographics, local governments in the San Francisco Bay Area experiment with aging-friendly policies and programs. Explore innovations that support older adults wishing to age in place. Identify the opportunities and challenges of establishing aging-friendly communities. Revamp planning processes to meet the changing needs of older adults. (Sponsored by APA Divisions Council)