AARP Conducts Age-Friendly Communities Survey in Orleans Parish

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 6, 2016  

 

AARP Conducts Age-Friendly Communities Survey in Orleans Parish

Survey aims to assess gaps in service, define goals for age-friendly task force

 

NEW ORLEANS, LA – AARP Louisiana is conducting a telephone survey of adults 45 and older across New Orleans in efforts to help make the city more age-friendly. As the leader of the age-friendly task force in New Orleans, a group of 20+ organizations consisting of service providers, non-profit organizations, and advocates, the telephone survey will be conducted from July 1 ^st-14 ^th. AARP encourages residents to stay on the phone and complete the survey so that the best data can be collected.

AARP’s Age Friendly Network was created to help cities prepare for the rapid aging of populations and the increase in urbanization. The program targets the environmental, social, and economic factors that influence the health and well-being of residents of all ages. AARP is working together with communities across the United States to encourage and promote age-friendly planning and policies that will allow communities to become places where people can grow up and grow older.

AARP has identified eight areas that influence the quality of life of those in a community, particularly older adults. The eight areas are: Outdoor Spaces and Buildings; Housing; Transportation; Social Participation; Respect and Social Inclusion; Civic Participation and Employment; Communication and Information; and Community and Health Services.

The survey captures these eight areas of an age-friendly community in order to help communities assess their features and services and identify and prioritize areas of focus. The survey will ask questions relating to housing and public building features, transportation, job opportunities, health and wellness, volunteering and civic engagement, social interactions, and community information.

The survey findings will reflect individual preferences and help policymakers, planners and others better understand the needs of an aging population in order to begin to brainstorm steps and policies that can be taken to improve livability for all. Survey results will be made available to the public and will be released by AARP at a later date.

 

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services.  A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates.  The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.