Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities

What is an age-friendly Community?

A livable community is a great place to grow up and grow old. A livable community encourages the integration of community development, infrastructure development and services. Its leaders recognize the needs and preferences of older adults and ensure that the community provides affordable and appropriate housing opportunities, adequate transportation and mobility options, and supportive community features and services.  And a livable community values people throughout their lifespan, supports individuals’ personal independence while recognizing their interdependence, and facilitates their engagement in civic and social life.

Age-Friendly communities have several distinguishing characteristics:

• Quality housing: A variety of options that are accessible, affordable, and adaptable.
• Mobility options: Multiple safe and accessible alternatives for getting from one place to another.
• High levels of social engagement and activity: Services, retail and green spaces within walking distance of housing, creating destination spots and opportunities for healthy lifestyles and social interaction.
• Easy access to information and resources: Readily available and easily navigable information about services and activities, and resources for taking utilizing them.
• Active community Involvement: Opportunities for social engagement, employment and volunteer and civic participation.
• Respect and social inclusion: Positive community attitudes about people of all ages (i.e., recognizing the valuable roles that people across their lifespan can play in society).

In May, 2013  the Foundation on Aging in partnership with the Larimer County Office on Aging invited several  agencies and organizations to come together with a shared mission to promote livable communities in Larimer County.  The group established a formal collaboration, named Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities in Larimer County, to begin planning and implementing specific actions to further develop these aspects of livability.  On November 24, 2015 the Larimer County Board of Commissioners signed a letter of intent for Larimer County to join the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. In a formal ceremony on February 11, 2016 AARP officially designated Larimer County as a member to that network and  PAFC will now begin planning a process for addressing the guidelines of membership. Follow this link to read more About PAFC -  its history, its work and its future.

Partnership Member Organizations:

Foundation on Aging for Larimer County

Larimer County Office on Aging

CSU Center for Public Deliberation

Fort Collins InterFaith Council

Fort Collins Human Relations Commission

Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board

Loveland Senior Advisory Board

University of Colorado Health Aspen Club

Elder Care Network of Larimer County

AARP Colorado

CSU Extension

Community Members at Large