The vast majority of people age 50 and older plan to live independently in their communities.
Boomers and older adults value secure neighborhoods, safety, good schools, safe streets for walking, and access to transportation, parks, and affordable housing, according to a survey by the AARP Public Policy Institute.
With these resources available, communities can help older adults be independent and engaged in civic, economic, and social life. They allow residents to age in place successfully.
“What older Americans and millennials want in terms of their community is not all that different,” said Debra Whitman, AARP executive vice president for policy.
A report based on the survey, “What Is Livable? Community Preferences of Older Adults,” shows that the elements of a community that will please America’s aging population will equally serve future generations, Whitman said.
The survey reaffirms the historic trend that most people ages 50 and older want to age in place. Adults ages 65 and older are even more likely, 87 percent, to say they want to age in their current home or community than those ages 50 to 64, 71 percent.
A small portion of adults age 50 and older – about one in six – say they plan to move in the next three years. This idea is more common for those who are members of minority groups, have low-incomes, don’t drive, or live in metropolitan areas.
Many factors are involved in what makes a livable community, according to the report. Household income influences local government spending priorities on schools, transportation, personal safety, and the availability of amenities. Race and ethnicity play a role as do health and life stage.
African American and Latino responding the survey ranked affordable housing more highly than others, while caregivers and people with disabilities rate the availability of specialized transportation more highly than those who aren’t in those categories.
Participants were also asked, “What community amenities do you want close to home?” Access to public transportation, food, and green space topped the list.
The research reported in “What is Livable? Community Preferences of Older Adults” is being used to develop of a web-based tool to be launched next year that will allow consumers to measure the livability of their community or a community they’re considering moving to, she said.
It will also allow community leaders to identify the livability of their towns and cities and measure year-over-year progress toward improving their livability goals, Whitman said.
The survey of nearly 4,500 people ages 50 and older was conducted between September 2012 and January 2013.
For more information about livable communities and aging in place, visit www.aarp.org/livable-communities.
