AARP

This season, we're focusing on the places that make healthy aging possible, because thriving at any age depends not only on the choices we make, but also on the communities where we live, work, and connect.

Joining us today is Bill Armbruster from AARP's Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.

For more than two decades, Bill has helped communities create age-friendly policies and environments that support health, connection, and well-being for older adults and people of all ages.

We recently had the opportunity to hear from Bill at our Aging Summit, where he announced that Illinois has joined the Age Friendly Network.

And I imagine we'll hear a lot of different perspectives on what that means in different contexts.

planners, government agencies, environmental advocates, and many others talk about livability, right? Often in slightly different ways.

AARP's perspective is especially interesting because it focuses on creating communities where people of all ages can thrive.

So let's start with the basics, Bill.

It's also designated as an age-friendly city.

In fact, it earned that distinction in 2012 from AARP as an affiliate of the World Health Organization's global network of those cities.

They're places committed to incorporating older adults' needs into their policies, their infrastructure, and their social services.

KUT's Longview Project is looking at what it's like to age here in Austin.

What is the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan?

The first version of the Age-Friendly Action Plan, it was adopted in 2016.

That plan was comprised of what they call the eight domains of livability, eight domains designated by AARP and the World Health Organization.

Domains like housing, transportation, outdoor spaces, health care services, social engagement, all the things that an older adult might be engaged in.

Have you seen cities that are doing this well?

What ends up happening, honestly, is that if you put a focus on, okay, we're going to make a community that's good for aging, and even if you ask the AARP, what does a good community for older people look like? They will tell you it's walkable, it's accessible, it has a range of housing types, it allows people to walk because they can't drive.

And when you do that, it turns out that's going to be attractive to young families, and that's also going to be attractive for economic development, in that you have a vibrant community that where people are active and on the streets and spending their money locally, like that's the kind of place that will grow.

And so, yeah, I think what ends up happening is you end up, if you can focus and please sections, as many sections of your populace as possible, you end up with this virtuous cycle and you end up with, Well, I'll keep coming back to this.

All right, good.

Only people who know that term are the ones getting AARP letters in the mail.

I almost made a crucial mistake this morning.

Joan, did you know why I was laughing when I was walking down the hall? Do you know what happened?

right, good.

Only people who know that term are the ones getting AARP letters in the mail.

I almost made a crucial mistake this morning.

Joan, did you know why I was laughing when I was walking down the hall? Do you know what happened?

Have you seen cities that are doing this well?

What ends up happening, honestly, is that if you put a focus on, okay, we're going to make a community that's good for aging, and even if you ask the AARP, what does a good community for older people look like? They will tell you it's walkable, it's accessible, it has a range of housing types, it allows people to walk because they can't drive.

And when you do that, it turns out that's going to be attractive to young families, and that's also going to be attractive for economic development, in that you have a vibrant community that where people are active and on the streets and spending their money locally, like that's the kind of place that will grow.

And so, yeah, I think what ends up happening is you end up, if you can focus and please sections, as many sections of your populace as possible, you end up with this virtuous cycle and you end up with, Well, I'll keep coming back to this.

We started discussing some of his hobbies, interests, things he might have been doing at one point that he no longer was.

And he actually ended up volunteering with AARP to do tax returns for other seniors.

So it.

Gave him some purpose in life.

Yeah.

I'm going to create a new clan tag, AARP.

So there's a few people who understand that joke.

But the point is, is that if we only have five years to needing our money or 10 years needing your money, make sure you're matching your duration in your portfolio.

Yeah.

AARP.

Come get the candy from my porch.

I dare you.