EP89: Project Overview: AARP Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Welcome to</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This Is Getting Old</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">with your host Melissa Batchelor. I share a recent initiative I’ve been working on called the</span> <strong><em>AARP / Age-Friendly Social Innovation Challenge. </em></strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This episode is</span> <strong>Part I: Overview</strong> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">of a special 10-part series related to several regional events we’ve held at the George Washington University’s Center for Aging, Health and Humanities. Learn from the outcomes of our collaborative projects with five regional age-friendly municipalities and our multi sector partners. This is the first time a region has worked together to create innovative solutions.  </span></p> <p><strong>History</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Age-Friendly Cities and Communities’ started in 2007 by the</span> <a href= "https://extranet.who.int/agefriendlyworld/who-network/"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> World Health Organization (WHO).</span></a> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">In 2012, AARP became an independent affiliate organization for the United States wherein they created the</span> <a href= "https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/network-age-friendly-communities/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">AARP Network of the Age-Friendly States and Communities.</span></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are six principles for a livable community (listed below). These include issues like affordability, equitable access, quality and choice accessibility and the ability to age in place. Health, safety and environmental sustainability, as well as holistic policymaking. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And that's where these initiatives come in. Holistic policymaking is where all communities should seek to improve the interconnectedness for issues related to health, wellness, safety, work, education, environment and social engagement. A