Social Mobility for Seniors

Social Mobility for Seniors

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Did You Know?

> By the year 2050, there will be 2 billion older persons in the world compared with 600 million today. For the first time in world history, older people will out number children.

> 90 percent of AARP members say that want to remain in their homes.

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Significant Barriers to “Aging in Place”

> Often people don’t think about the barriers to aging at home until they are suddenly confronted with too many steps, hard-to-handle doorknobs, or slippery bathroom floors.

> Medical centers, grocery stores and pharmacies can become too hard to reach without the help of a neighbor or friend.

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Significant Barriers to “Aging in Place”

> According to AARP’s Beyond 50 livable communities report, 60 percent of seniors reported that there was no public transportation within a 10 minute walk from their homes.

> Suburbs and rural areas are especially underserved.

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Livable Communities: The Vision

> Livable Communities are places where people of all ages and abilities have housing and mobility options that keep them safe and comfortable in their homes and get them where they need to go.

> Community features such as nearby medical facilities and places to shop also support the needs of the residents. Livable Communities are places where people can live lives of purpose on their own terms and where they choose.

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Livable Communities:The Goal

> AARP’s work is focused on helping people age successfully. “Successfully” means thriving, staying connected with family and friends, and living with independence, choice, and control.

> To accomplish that goal AARP advocates for policies,

programs and services to ensure that Americans 50+ can sustain mobility as they age, and that they have a range of accessible and affordable housing options.

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Livable Communities:The Approach

> AARP forms strategic partnerships with national, state and local organizations; pursue advocacy; delivering information; and driving innovation in the market place.

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> Local Stakeholders Meetings - Statewide stakeholders meeting on December 1, 2009

> Walkability Audits

> Complete Streets Legislation > State Legislation introduced (S.5711/A.8587) > Federal Legislation – AARP is a part of the national

complete streets coalition

Livable Communities:The Approach

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Livable Communities:Transit Oriented Development

> Housing near transportation provides many opportunities for older adults and supports the creation of livable, sustainable communities.

> For low-income residents, the preservation of subsidized housing near transportation can help to ensure that persons of all incomes can realize the potential benefits of transit-oriented development.

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Livable Communities:Transit Oriented Development

> Preserving affordable housing in transit-oriented developments (TODs) is one of the challenges that communities can address to increase livability.

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Three areas that public policy must address:

1. Preserve existing affordable housing.

2. Integrate housing, transportation, and land use planning more effectively.

3. Improve and invest in public transportation.

Livable Communities:Transit Oriented Development

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> Preserve existing affordable housing

> Given the shortage of affordable housing, federal, state and local governments must preserve the subsidized housing that currently exists, particularly in areas near transit.

Livable Communities:Transit Oriented Development

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> Integrate housing, transportation, and land use planning more effectively.

> Housing policy and implementation traditionally are developed independent of land use and transportation planning.

> Disconnected silos are inefficient, and expensive. They prevent maximizing the potential benefit of harmonized and integrated housing, transit and land use planning, both for communities and individuals.

Livable Communities:Transit Oriented Development

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> Improve and invest in public transportation

> For an individual user, public transportation must be accessible and accommodate one’s physical impairments and limitations, go where one needs to, and be reliable.

> In areas where transit does not meet these criteria, non-drivers may be isolated and have a diminished quality of life compared with those who have more options.

Livable Communities:Transit Oriented Development

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> Investing in affordable housing near transit is important, not only because it is one way to create more livable communities, but also supports other national policy goals.

> When planned and implemented in ways that complement the recommendations these policies can create communities that are both affordable to a wide range of residents and environmentally responsible.

Livable Communities:Transit Oriented Development

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Livable Communities:Transit Oriented Development

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