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North Conway, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Lifelong housing and accessibility
Description: The Gibson Center and its partners hosted a Safe and Smart Home Expo to help older adults explore practical ways to age in place. The event featured the "Smart Home on Wheels" as well as demonstrations of adaptive devices, safety checklists and universal design concepts. Hundreds of visitors learned about affordable technology, with one exhibitor noting, "Visitors were excited to hear how affordable and easy to use smart plugs are." The expo sparked ongoing conversations about livable housing and inspired plans for future demonstrations.
Tucson, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Lifelong housing and accessibility
Description: Like many communities, Tucson has struggled to meet the needs of older adults who want to age in place but lack the resources to stay in their homes. To address this, Tucson created a formalized home sharing program through a new organization, Tucson Home Sharing Inc. The organization has hired staff, formed relationships with county leaders, conducted public meetings, created promotional materials and built an online presence -- all with the goal of connecting older adults with younger roommates. The housemates can help with meal preparation, shopping, transportation, small home repair tasks and pet care. In exchange, they receive decreased or no rent. Organizers hope this decreases social isolation and increases the supply of the affordable housing within the community, enabling older adults to remain in their neighborhoods.
Knoxville, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Lifelong housing and accessibility
Description: Family Promise of Knoxville's transitional housing program gives unhoused families a place to live while they get back on their feet. Many residents use the organization's Day Center to gather, access the internet, read and work on homework. But the communal space was dimly lit, which caused many residents to feel unsafe. To make the space more welcoming, organizers installed new light fixtures, as well as energy-efficient ceiling fans. They also installed doors to separate offices, a work room, computer lab and storage spaces. Organizers say they wanted to be sensitive to the trauma many families have experienced and hope the upgraded space gives residents dignity during their shelter stay.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Washington, DC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Residents and caregivers in living facilities for older adults often feel invisible, a challenge rooted in age stereotypes. Forest Hills of DC launched a temporary public art initiative featuring portraits and personal stories displayed as a large mural during a citywide art festival. The project included a workshop on dismantling age bias and a digital exhibit that remains online. The mural boosted morale, drew broad attention and increased volunteer engagement, with local media coverage and a visit from the mayor. "At Forest Hills, we truly believe in the magic that art and community can bring to our lives," said one participant.
Washington, DC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: To mark the arrival of a new grocery store to the Bellevue neighborhood, Safe Routes to Healthy Food for Older Adults set out to improve traffic safety, increasing locals' ability to access food. At the annual Taste of Harvest Festival, residents of the Bellevue neighborhood helped paint a vibrant, vegetable-themed crosswalk. The event also invited attendees to paint reusable shopping bags, which gave project organizers an opportunity to chat with residents about their ideas for improving neighborhood safety. Following the success of that even, organizers created a second artistic crosswalk at a mobile farmer's market near a local library branch. While painting took place, project organizers conducted a survey to gather feedback on traffic safety. This led to conversations about residents' frustrations accessing healthy, affordable food. Organizers say they hope the project leads to permanent infrastructure improvements in the future.
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