Livable Communities An Evaluation Guide – 2005 Assessments

Livable Communities An Evaluation Guide – 2005

Full Report

Overview

The number of drivers age 70 years and older increased by a significant 111 percent from 1980 to 2000. A livable community is one in which the older adult population can remain independent in their homes and maintain a certain quality of life as they age. AARP has created this guide to serve as a tool for determining the livability of a community by offering past research and successful survey techniques intended to gain a better understanding of the needs of older adults in different communities.

Key Points br

To understand the characteristics of a livable community, AARP conducted 14 focus groups across the U.S. from 13 different states. All older adults included in the focus groups lived independently and most were actively involved in their communities. These participants were asked to define elements of a livable community pertaining to transportation, walkability, housing, health services, and community activities. The feedback received from these focus groups was used to create useful survey questions intended to understand fully the concerns of older adults regarding the livability of their communities.

How to Use br

According to AARP, the purpose of this guide is to “encourage us to take a new look at the community or neighborhood in which we now live.” Part 3 of the guide offers a step-by-step agenda on how to conduct a community survey with the help of local volunteers, sample questions for community surveys, and “get ready checklists” that can be utilized to help local officials and community leaders identify issues of concern. Local officials can use this guide as a resource to create a survey intended to gain a better understanding of current livability features in their communities and the expectations of their older adult population. View full report:

Stay Informed — For Free

The weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities e-Newsletter provides local leaders with information and inspiration for making their town, city or neighborhood more livable for older adults and people of all ages.
Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.