Making Dowtown Living Aging-Friendly

Vince M

yers, Prin

cipal a

nd Directo

r of S

enior Livin

g Design Studio, D

IGroupArch

itecture (M

oderator)

Katie York

, Project D

irecto

r, Life

long Montcla

ir

Jack Carm

an, Presid

ent, Desig

n for G

enerations

Anthony Argondizza, E

xecutive Vice

President a

nd Chief Operating O

fficer, Sprin

gpoint Senior L

iving

The New Breed of Seniors

Seeking a place to live that supports an engaged lifestyle.

Benefits of Downtown Living•Convenient Services•Walkability•Public Transportation•Cultural Destinations•Entertainment |Dining•Shopping•Leisure Activities

•Strategic P

lanning

•Design Prin

ciples

•Development O

pportunitie

s

Strategic P

lanning

Lifelong Montclair: Montclair’s Aging in Place Initiative

Katie York, PhD, MBA Project Director, Lifelong Montclair

MontclairAIP@gmail.com www.lifelongmontclair.org

Lifelong Montclair Background •  Why work toward age-friendliness? •  History of Lifelong Montclair •  AARP/WHO Age-Friendly Designation

–  Transportation –  Social participation –  Respect and social inclusion –  Civic participation and employment –  Communication and information –  Community support and health services –  Housing –  Outdoor spaces and buildings

Case Study: Transportation

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Case Study: Transportation

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Case Study: Transportation

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Essex County Special Transportation

Case Study: Transportation

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Lifelong Montclair Projects

•  Social participation – Montclair Institute for Lifelong Learning

•  Respect and social inclusion – Advisory committee – Action teams – Senior-friendly businesses

•  Civic participation and employment – Advisory committee – RSVP

Lifelong Montclair Projects, cont’d

•  Communication and information – Directory of senior services – Community calendar – Websites

•  Community support and health services –  Life Transitions Program

•  Housing – HomeSharing

•  Outdoor spaces and buildings – Community Center

Design Prin

ciples

  Neighborliness   Environment for growth, learning and autonomy   Positive image of the environment   Diverse housing options   Community for all ages

Design Principles

“Elderburbia” – Philip B. Stafford

Goal: Create opportunities for community activities

Benefit: People who are socially engaged live longer

Goal: Incorporating walking, bicycling, or other forms of physical activity

Benefit: Making it possible to remain healthy and engaged

Goal: Maintain our connection with the natural environment

Benefit: Reduce stress Lower blood pressure Vitamin D Circadian Rhythms

Goal: Develop opportunities for community gardens, CSA programs and/or farmers markets

Benefit: Improved nutrition Better health Reduced obesity

Goal: Provide a variety of ‘green spaces’

Benefit: Improved concentration ‘Forest bathing’ Social engagement Increased physical activity

Activities in support of peoples daily lives

  Driving   Walking   Shopping   Daily chores   Accessing health services   Leisure events   Socialization

“Geography of Aging” – Gerald Hodge

Maintaining community mobility leads to better health

“…the transition to driving cessation is accompanied by significant declines in health…” “…older adults who cease driving are four to six times more likely to die over the subsequent three-year period. Overall, maintaining mobility is important for older adults’ health and well-being.” - The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 2009

•  ‘Firefly’ electric wheelchairs

•  Three wheel ‘Petra’ bikes

•  Mopeds •  Scooters •  Electric carts •  Bicycles

Mobility devices

  town centers – a quiet, pleasant main street with thriving retail   areas designed for people first, cars second   neighborhoods with mixed income and mixed-use housing   safe, adequate and appealing public space for people to gather   easy access for people of all ages and abilities   main streets that are interconnected   people walk throughout the year

Walkable Communities

20-Minute Living •  This is the way of life supported by the planning concept called “20-minute living,” a term coined by the Portland, Oregon-based real estate development firm Gerding Edlen

•  Neighborhoods in which everything residents need is within 20 minutes of their homes.

•  They are convenient and planned with people in mind.

•  People can continue to live in their communities

Ordinances “While Maplewood does not have sidewalks in most residential areas, they are becoming more prevalent in larger commercial areas and along high-traffic streets.” Trails have also been required as part of new residential developments to provide convenient access to parks and open areas. Policy to install sidewalks adjacent to all heavily-traveled roadways within Maplewood. Public Works Maintenance has developed a plan to provide residents/users of sidewalks a more convenient and safe system. Report uneven joints or cracked and broken sidewalks that could be hazardous to pedestrians should be reported to the Maplewood Public Works Department. During the winter, remove snow from walkways within 48 hours of the completion of street plowing operations.

SIDEWALKS

•  Connect missing sections •  Remove obstacles •  Installed on both sides •  Map routes •  Adequate width •  Materials/glare •  Minimal slope •  Recycled rubber walks •  Geothermal walks

VISIBILITY/SIGHT

•  Non-glare surfaces •  Level sidewalks •  Distinguish borders, edges •  Street lights •  Signage/Font size •  Directional signs •  Security/perception •  Even light distribution •  IES-RP-28-07

SOUND

•  Lose acuity in hearing high frequency sounds •  Maintain low frequency pitches, which may be

annoying •  Hearing impairments = slower walking speeds •  Hearing acuity linked to poor balance and falls •  Reduce hard surfaced echo chambers •  Reduce traffic noise near walkways and

outdoor areas •  Cross walk auditory signals •  Trees are “acoustical tiles”

“Up to 50% of the physical decline

typically seen in older adults is due to

inactivity”

– The Journal of Aging and Physical Activity

The ‘Hidden’ Benefits of Exercise “Starting an exercise program can have benefits at any age, but is particularly important for those over 40, when physical strength, endurance, flexibility and balance begin to decline.” - Pamela Peeke, MD, Bethesda, Md., physician and fitness expert and author– W.S.J.

“The three prerequisites for well-being in later years are good health, financial security, and social integration. You want to move to a community that is set up to make it easier for people to get out and walk.” – Victor Marshall, Dir., Institute on Aging, UNC, Chapel Hill, US News & World Report

Development Opportu

nities