AARP Eye Center
The Age-Friendly Communities Conference hosted by AARP Michigan is now available for online viewing.
The informative one-day conference, held in February 2013 in Ann Arbor, explored what communities must do to prepare for the growing population of older adults.
The conference featured national experts who addressed the demographic shift occurring in communities and why it's in a community's economic interest to attract and retain boomers and older adults.
About 200 mayors, city planners and managers, real estate developers, public health officials and other professionals attended the event for a comprehensive look at how communities can meet the needs of residents of all ages.
Following are links to five segments of the conference:
Karen Kafantaris, Associate State Director of AARP Michigan, sets the scene for the conference. In these excerpts, she describes the global demographic shift that is taking place and the need for municipalities to take action.
Kafantaris: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVfwNl3-q5M
Todd Zimmerman, a marketing strategist, talks about the economic costs of failing to plan for an aging population.
Zimmerman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyJ8UP_wju8
In the Housing and Transportation session excerpts, Rodney Harrell, AARP Senior Strategic Policy Advisor, outlines the desire for—and challenges to—aging in place.
Kristen Misner, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services in the New York Ciity Mayor's Office, highlights some of Age-Friendly NYC's achievements in implementing programs as a member of the Age-Friendly Communities Network.
Misner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-WOvHBoUgQ
Four experts offer personal reactions to the conference sessions. Speakers include Suzanne Schulz (Director of Planning, City of Grand Rapids), Peter Allen (Ann Arbor real estate developer and UM lecturer), Joanne Feutz (Disability Advocates of Kent County), and Jonathan Levine (Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, UM).
Reaction Panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVu3_NX1bPs
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