The report Creating Aging-Friendly Communities  (March, 2009) from the Center for the Advanced Study of Aging Services University of California at Berkeley describes an innovative approach to assisting communities to prepare more effectively for the aging of the U.S. population. It documents a 2008 conference of the same name with the following primary goals: (1) capture emerging knowledge regarding the characteristics of aging-friendly communities; (2) identify proven strategies for making communities more aging-friendly; (3) promote the vital involvement of older adults as community assets; and (4) foster a “learning community” that supports innovation and creative problem-solving in response to the changing needs of the aging population.

The report describes the innovative conference format and examines the extent to which conference goals were achieved.  The authors conclude that conference brought together the country’s leading experts regarding aging and community development to foster innovative solutions to problems faced by local communities as they respond to the changing needs of their aging populations as listed above.  The conference also helped to foster aging-friendly communities in which older adults are actively engaged in enhancing the quality of life for all residents. The participants in the conference also benefited from interactive presentations and sessions that addressed knowledge and skill building.

To fully understand the conference and all the elements you make access the report Creating Aging-Friendly Communities from the Center for the Advanced Study of Aging Services at the University of California at Berkeley.