Definitions and Key Terms
Age-Friendly
An approach that emphasizes creating an environment to promote active aging, enhancing quality of life and allowing individuals to age in good health and dignity. Age-Friendly design serves the needs and opportunities of people of all ages, frequently focusing on older adults and the promotion of their well-being and active inclusion in all facets of society.
Placemaking
The collaborative process of transforming places into vibrant, inclusive, and engaging environments that reflect the needs, desires, and identities of the community. It requires the input of individual residents and diverse stakeholder groups in order to design and reimagine these spaces, fostering a sense of ownership, pride, and attachment among the people and communities who use and interact with them. The goal of placemaking is to create well-designed, functional, and aesthetically pleasing places that enhance overall quality of life, social connection, and sense of community.
Livable Communities
Places that are safe, secure, and have affordable housing and transportation options, as well as offer supportive community features and services that allow people to stay engaged and active throughout their lives. These communities are designed to promote the well-being of residents of all ages, enabling them to live independently and comfortably, with access to essential services and opportunities for social interaction and participation. AARP’s Livable Communities initiative focuses on advocating for and supporting the development of such communities to enhance the quality of life for older adults and all residents.
Built Environment
The physical and social surroundings that people live in and interact with on a daily basis including all the human-made elements, such as buildings, housing, transportation systems, parks, schools, and other infrastructure, that shape the spaces where individuals and communities live, work, play, and learn.
Ageism
Any form of discrimination or prejudice that is directed against individuals or groups based on their age. It involves stereotyping, stigmatizing, and marginalizing people simply because they are older or younger than a certain age. Ageism can manifest in various ways, such as exclusion from opportunities, unequal treatment in healthcare, employment, or social settings, and the perpetuation of negative attitudes and assumptions about age-related capabilities and worth. The World Health Organization recognizes ageism as a significant social problem that can have detrimental effects on the well-being and quality of life of individuals of all ages.
Intergenerational
Interactions, relationships, or activities that occur between different age groups, typically spanning multiple generations. It emphasizes the connection and exchange of knowledge, experiences, and resources between people of different ages, fostering mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation among individuals from various stages of life.
Reports
AGE FRIENDLY COLORADO SPRINGS FINAL PROGRESS REPORT, 2020
This report details the final progress from 2015-2020 in implementing the Age Friendly Colorado Springs Report and Action Plan.
To view the Final Progress Report, click here:
Quad Innovation Partnership Senior Affordable Housing Report, 2019
This report summarizes needs of seniors residents, details capacity and programs at area nonprofit service providers and outlines a set of concepts developed from this information to maximize quality of life in an affordable way including:
- Leveraging a dense, campus-like environment to centralize the provision of services that contribute to quality of life, including:
- Developing a community-centric shopping center near the senior apartments as a revenue source to support service provision.
- Working towards a swipe card system to streamline seniors’ access to local businesses and essential services
Read the full report here: Quad Innovative Partnership Senior Affordable Housing Report
AGE FRIENDLY COLORADO SPRINGS NEEDS, AWARENESS, SATISFACTION BENCHMARKING REPORT, 2019
AGE FRIENDLY COLORADO SPRINGS MIDWAY REPORT, 2018
Since becoming an Age Friendly city in March 2016, we have worked to convene the community, establish partnerships to accomplish the action items within the Age Friendly Colorado Springs Plan, and improve the community for people of all ages. The Age Friendly plan is a 5 year process and in December 2018 we reached the midway point of the plan. This report seeks to evaluate the progress made on the action items within the Age Friendly Colorado Springs Plan.
Walk Audit, 2017
This walking audit and report were made possible through a partnership between Innovations in Aging Collaborative, AARP, and the YMCA.
Walk Audit review presentation November 30, 2017
This presentation was used to engage stakeholders after the report was written. It includes statistics about walkability, challenges and assets that are specific to Colorado Springs, and photo visions of what is possible.
Coming soon: Walk your City Initiative
- Look out for a new, temporary signage along the Sand Creek trail designed to increase walkability and wayfinding.
AGE FRIENDLY REPORT AND ACTION PLAN, 2016
AGING IN THE PIKES PEAK REGION, 2015
Innovations in Aging’s new report by Dr. Tucker Hart Adams, PhD, provides a detailed account of the increase in individuals ages 65 and older in El Paso, Park, and Teller Counties we can expect to see in the coming years.
In addition to predicting the demographic shift of the Pikes Peak Region, Adams also introduces a framework to allow Colorado Springs to become an Age-Friendly City.
Along with providing an explanation of best practices from other States across the US, she identifies specific areas of strength that already exist in our community and generates several ideas to make the Pikes Peak Region more livable for individuals of all ages.
To see a copy of the full report, click here: Aging-In-The-Pikes-Peak-Region-2015.pdf
To download the Executive Summary, click here: Executive Summary – Aging in the Pikes Peak Region 2015
