Kathy Sykes presented on EPA's Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging Awards program. She discussed how smart growth approaches like mixed-use development, affordable housing, and transportation options can promote active aging. The program awarded 21 communities that took collaborative, cross-sector approaches to address aging needs through community design. Common themes among winners were strong partnerships, addressing affordability and accessibility, and prioritizing independent living. Sykes concluded that lasting change requires leadership and multiple stakeholders working together towards shared goals of health and participation for all ages.

1. Kathy Sykes
Senior Advisor for Aging and Sustainability
Office of Research and Development, U.S. EPA
What We’ve Learned--EPA’s Building
Healthy Communities for Active Aging
Awards
Urban Land Institute – Housing Opportunity 2014 Conference
Session: Enabling Design for Health, Housing, and Happiness
May 16, 2014. Denver, CO

2. Aging in Community –
What promotes a long and healthy life?

3. Systems Approach to Healthy
Communities
“If a problem cannot be solved,
enlarge it.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower

4. 4
U.S. Population
Source of charts: U.S. Census Bureau, “65+ in the United States: 2005,” December 2005.
2000 2020 2040

5. Housing Problems for Older Adults
40% older persons
(owners/renters) have
housing problems
– mostly cost burden --
greater than 30% of
household Income
Source: Older Americans 2012
5

6. 6
Smart Growth Can Foster
Healthy Communities & Active Aging
Provide environmental
benefits
– Less air pollution
– Less water pollution
– Less sprawl
– Less traffic
– More open spaces
– Reduced GHGs
Promote physical
activity
– More options to
walk
– More bike lanes
– Better access to
parks, trails, and
recreational areas

7. 7
Building Healthy Communities
for Active Aging Awards

8. 65 Supporting Agencies and Orgs.
• 1000 Friends of Florida
• AARP
• Active for Life
• Administration on Aging
• Alliance for Aging Research
• Alliance for Healthy Homes
• America Walks
• American Medical Association
• Assoc. of Pedestrians & Bike Professionals
• American Planning Association
• American Public Health Association
• American Society on Aging
• Association of Jewish Services
• Atlanta Regional Commission
• B’nai B’rith International
• Catholic Health Association of the US
• Center for Civic Partnerships
• Cleveland Foundation
• Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups
• Concrete Change
• Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
• Easter Seals Project ACTION
• Elder Care Advocacy of Florida
• Encore Leadership Corps
• Enterprise
• Generations United
• Gerontological Society of America
• Grantmakers in Aging
• Gray is Green
• Gray Panthers
• Greater Boston PSR
• Healthy Aging Research Network
• Institute for Geriatric Social Work
• International City/County Management Association
• International Council on Active Aging
• Local Government Commission
• Maine Community Foundation
• Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc.
• Mobility Education
• National Asian Pacific Center on Aging
• National Assoc of Regional Councils
• National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
• National Blueprint Initiative
• National Caucus and Center on Black Aged
• National Center on Senior Transportation
• National Complete Streets Coalition
• National Council on Aging
• National Indian Council on Aging
• National Recreation and Park Association
• National Senior Citizen's Law Center
• New York Academy of Medicine
• Older Women’s League
• Partners for Livable Communities
• Pedestrians Educating Drivers on Safety
• Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging
• Portland State University Institute on Aging
• Project for Public Spaces
• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
• Science and Environmental Health Network
• Senior Citizen Services Inc.
• Society for Human Ecology
• U. Maine Center on Aging
• Walkable and Livable Communities
• Weinberg Foundation
• WellMed Charitable Foundation

9. 21 Winning
Applications from Diverse Agencies

10. Lead Agency for Successful Award Applications
Regional COG
County
City or Town
Neighborhood
Area Agencies on Aging
City Manager/Mayor
Health
Housing
Parks & Recreation
Planning Dept
Transportation
16

11. Atlanta's Lifelong Communities Initiative: ARC
Facilitated zoning changes &
30 elder housing
developments located near
services, connected to
existing neighborhoods.
Decrease auto dependence.
Voucher programs promote
ride sharing.

12. Housing Authority
Queen Anne’s County, MD
2007 Commitment Award
Photo Courtesy of Candice Darling
Housing Authority collaborated with Dept of Parks/Rec and Safe
Harbor Church to create network of new walking trails connected
to county trail system.
Strong citizen involvement & agency partnerships
helped to create an enriching environment
for elders in Queen Anne's County.

13. Achievement Award 2011
Brazos COG, TX
Community
received
knowledge,
training &
confidence to
self-manage
chronic diseases

14. Survey Results Outcome Measures
• Levels of community involvement
• Participant surveys, program attendance, and
number of classes taught
• number of organizations and agencies
incorporating needs of elders into their
strategic planning

15. Common Theme
Given the high costs of long-term care, and
physical, mental, & emotional stress the most
important goal is keep people residing and
participating in community for as long as
possible
– Worth trying anything to reach this goal

16. Most Important Change
• Town of Scarborough, Maine, approved several
senior housing projects.
• County of San Mateo --created an environment
where affordable housing developers and service
providers could work together
• Kirkland, WA -- ongoing commitment to provide
opportunities for active aging.

17. BVCOG, TX -- more affordable, accessible quality
“senior friendly” housing developments with curb cuts
and good lighting; and well designed walking trails.
Casper, WY -- made community pedestrian-friendly by
adding new sidewalks, trails, and pathways throughout
the community.
Most Important Change

18. Most Important Change
Satellite Beach, FL –
Proactively addressing health
care issues in older residents
saves health care costs.
Reduction in Emergency
Medical Services

19. Bryan: Involvement of the Business Community
Promoting walking trails in their storefronts,
and luring residents to learn about downtown
historic events and locations involves and
helps local businesses.
Concerned citizens brought urban farming to
downtown Bryan by planting a community
garden on a vacant lot.

20. BRAZOS: Community Partnerships
By forming “Community Partnerships” and
getting the whole community involved,
many people are taking ownership &
responsibility for implementing small
pieces of the overall project.
This approach benefits entire community.

21. Conclusions
• The communities clearly demonstrated that
strong leadership and multiple partnerships
are vital for making lasting differences.
• The policy implications of the changes these
communities achieved are promising. --
changes help to support older residents, and
beneficial to persons of all ages and abilities.

22. Take Away Message
“ If you want to go fast, go alone. If you
want to go far, go together. “
African Proverb

23. 23
Guidebook: A Resource for Community
Volunteers
epa.gov/aging/bhc/guide/index.html 23
Staying Active, Connected and Engaged
--Mixed use--amenities, social connectivity
Development and Housing
--Affordable, choices, ADUs
Transportation and Mobility
--Choices, complete streets, walking clubs
Staying Healthy
--Community garden, Village Model

24. RESOURCES
Join EPA’s Monthly newsletter
www.epa.gov/aging
EPA Website:
Growing Smarter, Living Healthier: A Guide to Smart
Growth and Active Aging
Request copy of paper: Making the Right Moves
sykes.kathy@epa.gov

25. Award Booklets

26. Examples of Award Winners
Town of Scarborough, Maine
Kirkland, Washingtond, WA

27. Town of Scarborough, Maine
Commitment Award Winner 2007
27
Created the Senior Center without
Walls
5 miles of walking trails
3 miles of sidewalks
Making it easy to incorporate
work exercise into one’s daily
activities

28. Achievement Award: Kirkland, WA
The “Ped Flag” Program
Picture Courtesy of Betsy Maxwell
Kirkland offers over
50 physical activity
programs designed
specifically for older
adults.
The Kirkland Steppers
Walk Program is free
for adults 50+.