Cases for Age-Friendly Planning And Policy
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Date
2024
Authors
Webster, Brian
Li, Alex
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
The City of Salem and its largest resource for older people, Center 50+, are in the process of planning for a momentous shift in the City’s demographic composition: citizens are getting older. Salem’s rapidly aging population necessitates a comprehensive approach to creating and maintaining an age-friendly city. This seminar class was tasked with finding, researching, and evaluating successful cases in age-friendly planning and public policy. By learning from programs that have made other cities more accessible for their older population, Salem can ensure that it does the best it can for its older community members.
The student research highlights the critical importance of fostering independence and community engagement among older residents. By prioritizing these areas, Salem can significantly enhance the quality of life for its older residents and solidify its position as a welcoming community for all ages. Across the students’ research and resulting case studies, key themes arose:
• The need to support aging in place through accessible and affordable housing, robust transportation options, and information
environments that work for older people
• Effective collaboration among government, non-profit organizations, and community members
• Methods to effectively maximize finite volunteer hours
• Outreach that meets older people where they are both physically and technologically
This report synthesizes the lessons from student analysis of successful cases into takeaways for the City of Salem and its citizens. By implementing the recommendations from this course and utilizing the analysis to shape ongoing programs targeted toward older people, Salem can support its aging population and become a thriving age-friendly city.
Description
89 pages