A New 'Livability Index' to Help Americans Age in Place

"In an effort to help planning committees and consumers, alike, create more age-friendly communities, AARP announced this week the launch of its new Livability Index," reports Emily Study.

"The tool allows users to search specific geographic areas to determine the location’s livability with respect to seven categories: housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement and opportunity." The categories are comprised by 50 measures, scored on a level from 0 to 100, with the average score set at 50.

The index follows on a study released in April 2014 by AARP, which found that aging Americans increasingly want to age in place. As explained by Study, the AARP is using last year's research and the new Livability Index as an advocacy effort in support of the infrastructure, planning, and urban design investments that can support healthy lifestyles for older populations as they age in place:

"The Livability Index is part of AARP’s broader initiative to create a nationwide network of age-friendly communities — a model that champions older residents’ needs and requires mayors and city councils to commit to developing a plan centered around criteria similar to that in the Index: health, transportation, housing, outdoor space, social participation, social inclusion, civic engagement and communication."