Community For All Ages

The City of Blue Springs was recently named a “Community for All Ages,” which recognizes its work to become more age friendly. The recognition program encourages communities to respond positively to the rapid increase in the older adult population and to adopt policies and programs that make the region a great place for residents of all ages to live and age well. This program is administered by the Mid-America Regional Council, KC Communities For All Ages and the First Suburbs Coalition. 

What is a Community For All Ages?

The basic idea behind communities for all ages is to create and foster an active, caring and welcoming community that promotes respect, diversity and inclusion of all ages and cultures. This approach is intended to improve quality of life for all residents. The Kansas City region’s demographic makeup is changing. Over the next 30 years, the population of the Greater Kansas City region is expected to expand from today’s two million to an estimated 2.7 million. Nationally, life expectancy at birth, currently about 78 years, is increasing at the rate of roughly 1.5 years per decade. The number of Americans age 65 or older, a mere 20 million in 1970, is on track to rise from about 40 million today to some 70 million by 2030. The 85+ population will more than triple from 5.8 million in 2010 to 19 million in 2050. In addition, the number of centenarians in the U.S. grew from 2,300 in 1950 to 79,000 in 2010 — and may top 600,000 by 2050. In 1970, 82 percent of the households in Johnson County were families headed by a husband and wife. In 2010, that number was 56 percent and it continues to drop. The Kansas City region has grown to include more single-person households, more households without children and more households headed by ethnic and racial minorities than ever before. 

The AARP Re-Defining Home

 
Home Today, Home Tomorrow competition challenged architects and designers to create new standards in housing design so people can stay in their home as they travel through various life stages: from entering the workforce, getting married, having a family, sending kids to college, becoming a grandparent, following personal passions with new careers and hobbies, and considering retirement.  Winners for this competition where just announced. Below is a link to this initiative - with details on each winning "solution." (click here)