According to AARP’s website, “a livable community is one that has affordable and appropriate housing, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility options, which together facilitate personal independence and the engagement of residents in civic and social life.”
In 2006, I formed an advisory group of community leaders to work on ways to help our community become more “elder-friendly.” The focus has shifted to developing “livable communities” – those that are livable for all generations, including seniors. The group had representatives from Southern Tier Home Builders & Remodelers Association, Greater Binghamton Realtors Association, Broome County Office for the Aging, Action for Older Persons and others.
In 2008, I participated in the “Empowering Communities for Successful Aging” conference that was held in Saratoga Springs and sponsored by the New York State Office for the Aging. The conference assisted civic leaders in addressing the needs of a rapidly increasing aging population, and challenges to local infrastructure, by providing them with access to best practices and experts in the field.
I participated in one session, entitled “Broome County: Innovative Approaches for Community Collaboration” with agency representatives from our community. It highlighted the success Broome County has achieved in its ability to respond to the needs of the community by taking a collaborative approach.
The increasing number of seniors, locally and statewide, presents opportunities for economic development and quality of life that we cannot ignore. It is important that we not only help retain seniors in our community but enable them to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.
According to the Aging Futures Partnership, the population in Broome County that is age 60 or over is 20.7 percent, which is well above the national average of 16.2 percent and the New York state average of 16.8 percent. In addition, the population age 65 and over grew 3.16 percent between the 1990 and 2000 census, while the overall population for Broome County fell 5.4 percent.
I’ve also worked closely with the Southern Tier Homebuilders & Remodelers Association and the Aging Futures Partnership to sponsor a free training program on zoning for members of planning and zoning boards, municipal leaders, economic developers and other interested parties
Affordable and accessible housing continues to be a concern and priority for seniors, first-time homebuyers and others in our community. The training programs help communities like ours overcome some of the zoning barriers that exist.