AARP Policy Expert Shannon Guzman Visits Delaware to Keynote at Transportation Policy Forum

The "Collaborative Policy Forum: Delaware's Changing Landscape" addressed critical transportation issues facing the state's growing aging population on Wednesday, July 17th, from 8:30 am to noon at the Audion of the STAR Campus in Newark, DE.

The forum, co-hosted by the Institute for Public Administration at the University of Delaware's Biden School, the DE Department of Transportation, Delaware Transit Corporation, and WILMAPCO, featured presentations on demographic trends and projections, along with mobility challenges for older adults.

Presenters explored solutions that allowed older adults to maintain active, independent lives without relying solely on cars. A keynote address by Shannon Guzman, Director of Housing and Livable Communities at AARP, focused on the challenges and opportunities of creating a more age-friendly Delaware.

Ms. Guzman shared successful strategies from other states and highlighted AARP's tools and resources to help communities achieve this goal.

“As our nation rapidly ages, it’s vital that local decision makers, organizations, institutions, and community members worked together to seize this opportunity to become more livable,” said Guzman. “We ensured that our communities worked for people of all ages and backgrounds, so they had access to housing, transportation, and key services that supported their health and wellbeing at every life stage.”

AARP offered various tools to support communities in becoming more age-friendly, including the Disaster Resilience Tool and the Livability Index, which rated states on walkability, healthcare access, age diversity, and other factors. Ms. Guzman also discussed frameworks like Vision Zero and Complete Streets, which promoted safe and accessible streets for all users.

AARP Resources:

AARP Livability Index: https://livabilityindex.aarp.org/

AARP Disaster Resilience Toolkit: https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/tool-kits-resources/info-2022/aarp-disaster-resilience-tool-kit.html

Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America: https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/livable-communities/transportation/planning-complete-streets-for-an-aging-america/

Age-Friendly Housing: https://www.aarp.org/ppi/issues/livable-communities/housing/