CREATING INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITIES

MIXING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN THEIR LIVING ENVIRONMENT LEADS TO HEALTHIER, MORE FULFILLED, BETTER CONNECTED AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES

Jim Elliott, senior transportation planner at Toole Design, said planning for seniors and intergenerational communities sometimes focuses on bike-pedestrian paths but forgets to address a healthy mix of land use. “Getting land use right is really critical for creating walkable communities.

You have to have the destinations that are nearby for people to go to—parks, stores, healthcare, places to exercise, people to visit,” he said.

Elliott said creating new or retrofitting existing areas to support intergenerational communities must provide a variety of transportation options.

He said his mother lives in an Arizona community intentionally designed for older adults.

“They made the mistake of assuming that everyone could drive,” he said of the Arizona 55+ community developed decades ago.

“It has great sidewalks, but they do not connect to stores or places people need to go. It causes a lot of stress for [his mom].

She is at the point of feeling uncomfortable in a car.

But she’s also feeling like she can’t give up her car because she can’t [do chores and errands] without it.”