Best Practices

The Livable Communities/Age Friendly Communities movement is happening throughout the state and the country. (Please see the Regional Map and Regional Happenings pages for information on efforts in New York Counties.) There are many experts that have developed community assessment models and toolkits for implementing projects. Some of those references are linked or contained on these pages for your review. Please see Tools for Building Empowered Communities.

The Administration on Aging has defined Livable Communities as places where people of all ages can live comfortably and where there have been significant improvements in the following six key areas:

• affordable/accessible housing;
• affordable/accessible transportation;
• accessible built environments;
• work, education and volunteer opportunities;
• access to health and supportive services; and
• citizen participation in civic and cultural activities.

Some models are being tested by the Administration on Aging through the Community Innovations in Aging in Place grants. Some models are being tested in New York by the Office for Aging through grants that support the creation of communities in which older adults can successfully age in place. http://www.aging.ny.gov/News/PressReleases/2009/2009PR4.cfm

Other models have been in place for many years, including Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC). A NORC is a community with a concentrated population of older individuals, which may include a residential building, a housing complex, or an area of single family residences where there is a critical mass of older individuals, allowing an organization to achieve efficiencies in the provision of health and social services to older individuals. Services include: case management and social work services; health care management and prevention programs; education, socialization, and recreational activities; and volunteer opportunities for program participants and the community. New York State and New York City fund some established NORCs. More information on this model of Aging in Community is available at http://www.norcblueprint.org/.

Active AARP members are working in a number of New York communities to advance the livable communities movement. Information on Opportunities for Creating Livable Communities can be found at http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/il/2008_02_communities.pdf and Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America can be found at http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/il/2009_02_streets.pdf