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Green Valley, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: Valley Assistance Services expanded its volunteer driver program to help older adults in rural Arizona overcome the lack of affordable transportation for medical care and daily needs. Eleven new drivers now provide free round-trip rides for appointments, errands and social activities. This is additionally supported by RN home visits to assess health and mobility. One participant shared that volunteer drivers made it possible to keep weekly oncology treatments, even on short notice, offering peace of mind and continuity of care. Outreach and partnerships ensure the service will keep growing.
Chapel Hill, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: Frequent crashes on high-injury corridors put pedestrians, especially older adults, at risk when walking to transit or community centers. To address this, the town piloted traffic calming measures including modular refuge islands, a traffic circle and a chicane near key locations. It also hosted a Vision Zero Community Safety Festival and outreach events to educate residents and gather input. These efforts improved safety and accessibility, energized community engagement and accelerated adoption of an updated Traffic Calming Policy, laying the foundation for broader Vision Zero initiatives.
Long Beach, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Transportation Systems Change
Description: Older adults in Long Beach faced severe transportation barriers that kept many from medical care and social programs, deepening isolation after the pandemic. The Healthy Aging Center provided more than 1,000 free taxi rides for appointments, pharmacies and grocery trips, helping residents regain independence and reconnect with community resources. "This program brought me back to life... getting out of the house again after staying at home these past few years has been a blessing," said one participant. The service also improved compliance with health plans and sparked advocacy for sustainable transportation options.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Shawnee, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: For years, officials in the City of Shawnee heard complaints from residents of the historic Jefferson Terrace neighborhood about vehicles speeding and running the four-way stop sign at an intersection. To reduce vehicle speeds and increase pedestrian safety, the City replaced the ignored stop signs with a mini traffic circle, the first of its kind in Shawnee. The City collected data traffic speeds and volume before and after the circle's installation, which proved that although traffic counts remained the same, vehicular speeds slowed down. The success of the project has inspired Shawnee officials to consider similar traffic calming interventions at other locations.
Shawnee, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: This project will provide bathroom safety products like shower chairs, bathtub rails, grab bars, non-slip mats, and adjustable shower heads to elderly or disabled residents.
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