Executive
summary
In essence, the way our community treats older adults and children reflects on how we treat our constituency as a whole.This philosophy of urban design encourages cities to create more options for mobility and revitalize public spaces accordingly. The working group that developed this report used Mr. Penalosa’s ideals to shape Tucson’s approach to improving the City’s age-friendly features. Although Tucson has not yet fully recovered from the Great Recession, older adults continue to retire here because of our hospitable climate and affordability, presenting an urgent need to think critically about our resources and invest wisely in a more livable community for all. The Age-Friendly Tucson report is divided into eight domains, as established by AARP and theWorld Health Organization. These include: Outdoor Spaces & Buildings,Transportation, Housing, Social Participation, Respect & Social Inclusion, Civic Participation & Employment, Communication & Information, and Community & Health Services.
Age-Friendly Tucson began in September 2016 when Mayor and Council resolved to participate in AARP's and theWorld Health Organization’s Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. The City formed a working group with Pima Council on Aging, the ELDER Alliance, and AARP Arizona to research and compile this report. Nationwide, 20% of all people are 60 years of age or older. In Pima County, just under 25% of our population is 60 years or older, slightly higher than the national average. Our county is becoming older faster than it is expanding. In fact, between 2010 and 2015, the overall population grew by 3% but the population of people aged 60 and over grew by 17.5%. Gil Penalosa, the founder of 8 80 Cities, spoke in Tucson in 2017 about his vision for a more livable and age-friendly society. He believes that if public spaces are designed to be accessible and friendly for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old, they will be accessible and friendly for all ages in between.
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