1. Creating Environments
for Successful Aging
Jana Lynott, AICP
Strategic Policy Advisor
Transportation/Livable Communities
AARP Public Policy Institute

2. Every 11 Seconds a Boomer Turns 60
Source: Getting Current: Recent Demographic Trends in Metropolitan America,
Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institute, 2009.

3. The Age Wave is Coming
and it will hit harder in Hawaii
Projected Growth in the Older Population in Hawaii as a Percentage
of 2000 Census, by Age Group, 2000-2030
220%
Population (% of 2000 Census)
200%
85+ 75-84
180% 65-74 50-64
160%
140%
120%
100%
80%
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
Houser, Fox-Grage, Gibson (2009). Across the States 2009: Profiles of Long-Term
and Independent Living. Washington, DC: AARP Public Policy Institute.

4. Longevity Paradox
“Having invested so much to get
people to live longer, we’ve barely
given any thought to how we can
help them to live better.”
~Joe Coughlin, MIT AgeLab

5. Our Communities are Unprepared
• 54% of American communities do not have the policies,
programs or services in place to promote quality of life,
community engagement, and independent living of older
adults (N4A survey of 10K local governments, 2006).
• 2/3 of transportation planners and engineers have not yet
begun considering the needs of older users in their multi-
modal planning (AARP Public Policy Institute/ITE online
survey of more than 1K planners and engineers, 2008).

6. Safety on America’s streets is
a major concern for older
adults
• 40% say they do not have adequate
sidewalks in their neighborhoods
• 47% say they cannot cross their main
roads safely
International Communications Research Poll for AARP,
1,000 adults, July 2008
6

7. Hawaii’s Roads are Particularly
Hazardous to Older Pedestrians (65+)
60%
50%
40%
Hawaii
30%
US
20%
10%
0%
Total Motor Pedestrian
Population Vehicle Fatalities
Fatalities
Source: NHTSA, FARS Encyclopedia, 2005

8. Are falls a
• Fall-related deaths and
hospitalizations are more planning
than double those for motor problem?
vehicles injuries for the 65+
• Falls cost Hawaii
$10,600/fall in direct medical
and long-term care costs.
• Falls account for 68% of
hospitalizations for 65+ pop
• Almost half occur away
outside the home

9. Livable Communities
Mobility:
Americans 50+ are
able to sustain
mobility as they age
Photo by Jana Lynott
Housing:
Americans 50+
have appropriate
and affordable
housing options Photo by Jana Lynott

10. Livable Communities—
Principles & Solutions
• Choice
• Affordability
• Accessibility

11. Increasing Home Access:
Designing for Visitability
Authors:
Jordana L. Maisel & Edward Steinfeld
Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Universal
Design at Buffalo
College Park/ LeMoyne Gardens
Photo courtesy of Torti Gallas and Associates School of Architecture and Planning
University at Buffalo
&
Eleanor Smith
Concrete Change

12. Step-less entrance Bathroom access
Accessible circulation
Visitability Features
 One zero step entrance, located at the front, back, or side of the
house, on an accessible path of travel
 32 inch clear opening at doorways and accessible circulation
throughout the floor plan
 Basic access to at least one bath or half bath on the ground floor

13. February 9-17th, 2009
Atlanta, Georgia

15. Key Findings
• Lifelong Communities must embrace
tenets of Urbanism—connected network of
streets and sidewalks, services located
near housing, housing and transportation
choices.
• Current accessibility regulations (ADA &
Fair Housing Act) do not meet needs
• Need new rules based on performance
rather than compliance

16. Social Interaction

17. Land Use
Policy
• Coordination of
housing,
transportation &
service decisions
• Mixed-use within
easy walking Photo credit: City of Boulder Planning Dept.
distance of
shopping,
recreation, public
transportation &
services
• TOD

18. AARP’s Mobility Agenda:
Access to Transportation
Some Statistics:
• Outliving our driving years
− At age 70 – men outlive by 7 years and women
outlive by 10 years
• Stranded without options
− 6.8 million non-drivers 65+
− 54% stay home

19. AARP’s Mobility Agenda:
Access to Transportation
Family of Travel Choices
• Fixed-route public transportation
– Travel training
− Travel experience
• Specialized Services
− Paratransit
− Non-emergency medical transportation
− “Senior Ride”
− Volunteer transportation services
− Rideshare programs
− Taxi service
− Rural Transportation

20. Transit Solutions

21. AARP’s Mobility Agenda:
The Travel Environment
• “Complete Streets” = Roads safe for all
users
– Pedestrians/motorists/bicyclists/transit riders
• Road design features to promote safety
− Intersections – lanes and signals
− Pavement markings
− Signage and font size
− Lighting

22. Farmers Markets and
Community Gardens—
A working and social space

23. Discussion Questions
1. Is your home designed with basic “visitable”
access features (zero step entrance, wide
doorways, restroom on main floor)?
2. What changes are needed to our zoning
ordinance and housing code to allow visitable
homes to be built?
3. How prepared is our community for an aging
population?
4. What other challenges can we address at the
local government level to improve our livability
for all ages?