Age Friendly Colorado Springs

Age Friendly Colorado Springs

Purpose of Initiative

The purpose of Colorado Springs joining the network of AARP Age Friendly Communities is to serve as a catalyst to educate, inspire, and promote improvements that Colorado Springs and El Paso County can implement to make our community known as a remarkable place in which to age. Age-Friendly Colorado Springs (AFCS) is a partnership between governmental agencies, nonprofits, businesses, committed volunteers and funders. The purpose of AFCS is to develop an action plan that guides and builds strategies to make Colorado Springs livable and welcoming for individuals of all ages. The affiliation with AARP provides value, networking, and best practices of other Age Friendly Communities.

Innovations in Aging Collaborative (IIAC) has made AFCS a primary initiative for 2016. IIAC oversees the initiative by providing a steering committee and staff support, helps to generate financial resources, and providing current research through IIAC’s report by Tucker Hart Adams, Aging in the Pikes Peak Region (2015).

Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers submitted an application to AARP to join the Age-Friendly Communities Network, and that application was approved in 2015. Colorado Springs joined the network on March 8, 2016 in a ceremony at Colorado Springs City Council, in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office, Innovations in Aging and AARP Colorado.

Purpose/Mission: To create a strategic plan for our community to become an age friendly city that is welcoming and open to citizens of all ages and encourages a maximum quality of life.

Goal: To create an action plan based on the 8 domains of livability that includes performance metrics, a timeline and recommendations for implementation.

Vision: City of Colorado Springs and El Paso County will be an Age Friendly Community that is inclusive and accessible, where all residents may live a healthy, active, and engaged life.

Facilitation: Former City Council President Pro Tem and owner of Martin Business Group, Jan Martin, will serve as our lead Facilitator and Community Champion