Using an “Age-Friendly” Lens to Respond to and Recover from COVID-19 Danielle Arigoni, AARP Director of Livable Communities August 27, 2020
Questions to answer today What do we mean by an “age-friendly approach” and what does it have to do with smart growth? How has COVID-19 impacted older adults? What does that tell us about what communities need to consider as they respond to and recovery from COVID-19 in order to be great places for all? What resources do AARP Livable Communities and National Main Street Center offer to support communities? What can we do to best position communities for a successful recovery that creates more great places for all?
March 13, 2018 3
Over half of all HH are 1- or 2-persons, but more than 85% of housing stock is 2, 3, 4 or Older adults outlive their ability to more bedrooms. drive between 7-10 years. The share of 65+ renters who are Older adults represent rent-burdened increased from disproportionate share of pedestrian 43% in 2001 to 50% in 2015. fatalities in 35 states. Less than 1% of US homes are built with universal design in mind. Older adults represent more than Isolation and loneliness present 20% of population, health risks equivalent to but only 4% of park users. smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Parks serving people of color are half the size and 5x as crowded, which Isolation is associated with a 50% percent increased risk of increases temps and leads to dementia. disproportionate share of heat- related deaths among older adults.
AARP Livable Communities Approach aka our “Age-Friendly” Approach We support communities and local leaders to think differently about their housing, transportation and public spaces to create great places for all people of all ages .
Housing Main home ADU (l-r) Oregon, Lexington, KY’ Seaside, CA; Eugene, OR; Durham, NC
Transportation (l-r) Los Angeles, CA; Bethel, VT; Montgomery, AL; Columbus, OH
Public Spaces and Parks (clockwise from top left) Brownsville, TX; Omaha, NE; New Orleans, LA; San Diego, CA; Manning, IA
AARP Livable Communities Approach aka our “Age-Friendly” Approach We support communities and local leaders to think differently about their housing, transportation and public spaces to create great places for all people of all ages . State offices Programs and tech Grants to Tools and leading the charge assistance to catalyze change publications to on state/local support local and build empower residents advocacy leaders momentum and advocates
Training and technical assistance programs Programs and tech assistance to support local leaders Grants to catalyze change and build momentum Tools and publications to empower residents and advocates
Training and technical assistance programs Programs and tech assistance to support local leaders Grants to catalyze change and build momentum Tools and publications to empower residents Registration now open: and advocates aarp.org/Transportation2020
Grants for projects in communities Programs and tech assistance to support local leaders Grants to catalyze change and build momentum Tools and publications to empower residents and advocates 2020: $2.4 million in grants awarded to 184 communities (to date >$6 million in 4 years) Search for your community at https://livablemap.aarp.org/
Tools: LivIndex, map and newsletter Programs and tech assistance to Livability Index support local leaders https://livabilityindex.aarp.org / Grants to Free weekly e-newsletter catalyze change and Text LIVABLE to 50757 build momentum Tools and publications to empower residents and advocates Searchable map https://livablemap.aarp.org
Free publications Programs and tech assistance to support local leaders Grants to catalyze change and build momentum Free practitioner-oriented publications Tools and in print and via download on: publications to empower residents • Rural livability (incl. broadband, econ dev) and advocates • Housing (home modification, ADUs, diversity) • Transportation (including walk audit) • Placemaking and parks (including park audit) • Community engagement
Free publications Programs and tech assistance to support local leaders Grants to catalyze change and build momentum Tools and publications to empower residents and advocates …including publications to help inform local residents on their built environment, and empower them to become agents of change
Co-branded content with partners Programs and tech assistance to support local leaders Grants to catalyze change and build momentum Tools and publications to Our newest tool: empower residents and advocates Commercial District Design: COVID-19 Response and Management
AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities Programs and Nearly 500 communities + tech assistance to 6 states support local leaders Grants to Five-year cycle catalyze change and build momentum Over 100 million US Tools and residents live in an age- publications to friendly empower residents community and advocates Search for your community at https://livablemap.aarp.org/
Impact of COVID-19 on Older Adults CDC: 80% of all COVID-19 related deaths people 65 or older • Many in congregate living facilities • Disproportionately high among people of color, and those with underlying health conditions Other impacts: • Lack of access to healthy food, medicine • Prolonged isolation from family and friends • Limited opportunities for social engagement, volunteering • Inability to access housing alternatives • Layoffs and lack of employment • Delays in accessing needed health care • Decline in transportation options avail to non-drivers • Decreased support/relief for caregivers • Unequal access to online resources for those lacking high-speed internet or smartphones
Directly related to “age-friendly” domains • Lack of housing alternatives • Prolonged isolation from family and friends • Layoffs and lack of employment • Lack of access to healthy food, medicine • Limited opportunities for social engagement , volunteering • Delays in accessing needed health care • Decline in transportation options avail to non-drivers • Decreased support/relief for caregivers • Access to info and online resources dependent upon high-speed internet or smartphones
Learning from Age-Friendly Leaders AARP/NLC Older Adult Response Initiative Major areas of focus: Ensuring access to information Ensuring access to food Keeping older adults engaged in civic/social life First person narratives on aarp.org/livable
2020 NAFSC Member Survey on COVID-19: What type of community are you? 30% Suburban (with a Urban Small town mix of offices, 25% apartments, and 25% 37% shops 30% 20% 15% Rural Suburban (mostly residential) Other 10% 5% 0%
2020 NAFSC Member Survey on COVID-19: Who serves as the lead organization(s) to coordinate your age-friendly work? 60 51 50 44 40 31 29 30 22 20 14 8 10 6 6 6 4 0
2020 NAFSC Member Survey on COVID-19: To what extent to do you feel that your community has been impacted by COVID-19? Small Extent Too Soon to 6% Tell 4% Some Extent 8% Great Extent Moderate 58% Extent 24%
2020 NAFSC Member Survey on COVID-19: Have your age-friendly efforts/commitments helped your community to be better prepared to respond to COVID-19? Not Sure 32% Yes 54% No 14%
2020 NAFSC Member Survey on COVID-19: What element of your age-friendly work has been most helpful in your response to COVID-19? Partnerships with diverse organizations 46% Prior efforts to improve communication 26% with residents Prior efforts to understand residents 14% needs through surveys (or other means) Recruiting and deploying volunteers 7% Other 6% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%
What are the most urgent areas for your community in Part of action plan COVID-19 response and recovery? pre-COVID? Ensuring access to information 85% Keeping older adults engaged in social/civic activities 90% 65% Ensuring access to food and/or medicine 57% Ensuring access to healthcare, including telemedicine Addressing mental health 53% Preparing for emergencies and/or disasters 47% Supporting local businesses and local economic 42% activity 88% Ensuring access to transportation and mobility 68% Addressing housing supports and services 23% Addressing safety of congregate senior living facilities 47% Addressing disparities and systemic inequities Ensuring access to adequate housing 70% 77% Expanding access to work and volunteer opportunities 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120% Response Recovery
2020 NAFSC Member Survey on COVID-19: Do you think that your community’s experience with COVID-19 will change your age-friendly approach? Not Sure 29% No Yes 6% 65%
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