Making Santa Fe More Age-Friendly

As a historic city, Santa Fe has older areas where streets are often narrow and sidewalk access is limited. City Councilor Amanda Chavez knows that increasing accessibility — while also preserving historic features — can be challenging.

“It’s a little complicated to get around, for sure,” she says. “We’re going to have to brainstorm as a city.”

Addressing such accessibility hurdles is one reason Chavez last year advocated for Santa Fe to join the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. The nationwide network provides communities with resources to help improve public spaces, housing, transportation, social engagement and other areas that can create a better quality of life for people of all ages. Albuquerque, Carlsbad and Las Cruces are also members.

Joining the network is the beginning of a five-year process that includes assessing the community’s needs and developing a plan to make changes, says Gary Williams, associate state director of community outreach for AARP New Mexico.

Being part of the network is a great way to receive input on ways Santa Fe can support residents in every stage of life, says Maria Sanchez-Tucker, director of community services for the city.

“Listening to the community can open our eyes to needs that we didn’t understand or fully assess,” Sanchez-Tucker says.

Because of its popularity as a retirement destination, Santa Fe has a large older population, Chavez notes. In 2023, about 26 percent of Santa Fe’s population was 65 or older, compared with 18 percent nationally, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

In addition to accessibility, another concern for Chavez is the number of older residents who are raising their grandchildren. Easy access to resources for children is just as important as access to services for older adults, she says. The cost of living is also a problem that cuts across age groups, she adds.

“Along with being a world destination for entertainment and for quality of life, it is very expensive to live in Santa Fe,” says AARP’s Williams. “So, how do we support quality of life for the people who are doing the work and providing the services?”

Santa Fe’s participation in AARP’s age-friendly network will help to “shine a light on the work we have in front of us,” Chavez says.

For Santa Fe or any other city, Williams recommends the AARP Livability Index as a starting point. Visiting livabilityindex.aarp.org and putting in a city name or ZIP code will yield a wealth of information about housing, transportation, the environment and access to services.

Learn more at aarp.org/agefriendly.

—David Lewellen