Senior Friendly Communities

Communities nationwide are tackling the complex challenge of ensuring the safety of older road users and of promoting the continued mobility of individuals as they stop driving.  The following are several resources communities can use to help plan for the mobility of their aging populations:

• The Community Transportation Association (CTAA) includes information on Senior Mobility: CTAA is a public and community transportation advocate agency. To visit the web site, click here or or visit the CTAA web site at http://www.ctaa.org.
• A Blueprint for Action: Developing a Livable Community for All Ages is a guide intended to provide local leaders with tools to build the collaborations necessary to create livable communities. This guide can be accessed by clicking here or visit http://www.aginginplaceinitiative.org.
• Aging Americans: Stranded Without Options is a research study focused on the mobility of the aging population.  This study includes several recommendations for improving community transportation for the aging population.  The report can be viewed by clicking here or visit http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org.
• Livable Communities for Older People is a journal article focused on the various aspects of a community that promote the mobility and livelihood of older people, which can be accessed by clicking here or visit http://www.generationsjournal.org.
• NHTSA’s From the Field: Four Communities Implement Active Aging Programs is a case study on four programs focused on increasing activity among seniors.  This study can be viewed by clicking here or visit the NHTSA web site at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
• The National Center for Bicycling and Walking provides workshops and trainings for communities on ways to improve conditions for bicycling and walking.  More information can be found by clicking here or visit http://www.bikewalk.org/workshops.php.
• The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging’s Older Driver Safety Project has a community approach component to promoting older driver safety. This community-based approach can be accessed by clicking here or visit http://www.n4a.org.
• The Beverly Foundation provides materials and assistance to communities interested in starting a volunteer drive program.  More information can be found on their web site by clicking here or visit http://www.beverlyfoundation.org/index.html.

Rural Communities

A significant number of Iowa’s aging population live in the rural communities of the state, which typically has fewer transportation alternatives compared to urbanized areas.  The following are planning resources specific to rural communities:

• Transportation Innovations for Seniors: A Report from Rural America is a study conducted by the Beverly Foundation and the Community Transportation Association of America.  The study identifies transportation needs, services, challenges, and solutions for senior transportation in rural areas. To view a copy of the study, click here or visit http://www.stpexchange.org.
• The Beverly Foundation has a fact sheet on STPs (Supplemental Transportation Programs for Seniors) in Rural America, which provides information on what they do, how they do it, and where they are.  It also provides summaries of five existing STPs in rural areas. For more information click here or visit the Beverly Foundation at http://www.beverlyfoundation.org/.