Updated February 2010
Not too long ago, baby boomers and their parents were
lured to the suburbs with the promise of safe cul-de-sacs and roomy two-car
garages. But as those same baby boomers age, the suburbs where they were raised
– and where they raised their own families – could be turning on them.
Taking care of a yard and maintaining a
single-family home can tax the energy and the budgets of aging suburbanites. In
addition, the need to drive everywhere – from the grocery store to the doctor’s
office – can prove tiring, expensive and, eventually, impossible for people aging
in suburban neighborhoods. AARP reports that more than half of drivers over the
age of 75 avoid driving at night or in bad weather, and almost 40 percent stay
home when traffic is at its worst. [1]
Unfortunately, these older people also shun public transportation and often
live in communities where walking is either inconvenient or dangerous. [2] The challenges are even greater for rural elderly, who
often lack easy access to public transportation and medical care. [3]
Despite these and other barriers to aging
in place, only 46 percent of American communities have started planning to address
the needs of their future aging populations. [4] Cities and towns around the country will bear the primary responsibility
for ensuring that older citizens can age in place. The sprawling suburbs –
where most baby boomers grew up and where most want to age, will be at the
center of these efforts. The task will be particularly challenging in western
states, which expect their older populations to grow by as much as 297 percent
by 2030. [5]
Some forward-looking communities are already
working to retrofit suburban neighborhoods in an effort to create "lifelong
communities” that support people of all ages. [2]What makes a community “livable” for older adults? Several
organizations, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [6], the
National Association of Area Agencies on Aging [7],
and AARP [8]
have released reports describing features of elder-friendly communities and detailing
how municipalities can begin adopting these features. In a 2009 report, the Visiting
Nurse Service of New York described elder-friendly communities as places where:
- Affordable housing is available to community
residents.
- Housing is modified to accommodate mobility and
safety.
- The neighborhood is livable and safe.
- People have enough to eat.
- Assistance services are available and residents
know how to access them.
- The community promotes and provides access to
necessary and preventive health services.
- Opportunities for physical activity are
available and useful.
- Obstacles to necessary medical care are
minimized.
- Palliative care services are available and
advertised.
- Transportation is accessible and affordable.
- The community service system enables people to
live comfortably and safely at home.
- Caregivers are mobilized to complement the
formal service system.
- Residents maintain connections with friends and
neighbors.
- Civic, cultural, religious and recreational
activities include older residents.
- Opportunities for volunteer work are readily
available.
- Community residents help and trust each other.
- Appropriate work is available to those who want
it. [9]
Read More About It:
[1] “Aging
Suburbanites Lose Appetite For Driving.” 2009. The Washington Post, Dec. 29.
[2] “Making
Suburbia More Livable for Retirees.” 2009. The Wall Street Journal, Sept. 19.
[3] “For Elderly in Rural
Areas, Times Are Distinctly Harder.” 2009. The New York Times, Dec. 9
[4] The Maturing of America –
Getting Communities on Track for an Aging Population. 2006. National Association of Area
Agencies on Aging, International City/County Management Association, National
Association of Counties, National League of Cities, and Partners for Livable
Communities.
[5] “States
Face Largest Growth in Long-Term Care Need.” 2009. EmaxHealth, June 29.
[6] Growing Smarter,
Living Healthier: A Guide to Smart Growth and Active Aging. 2009. Environmental Protection Agency.
[7] A
Blueprint for Action: Developing a Livable Community for all Ages. 2007. National Association of Area
Agencies on Aging, Center for Livable Communities, Metlife Foundation.
[8] A Report
to the Nation on Livable Communities: Creating Environments for Successful
Aging. 2005. AARP.
[9] “Project Identifies
33 Indicators That a Community is ‘Elder-Friendly.’” 2009. Publications and
Research, Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation.