AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
See More Projects Like This One
Bowling Green, KY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: In Bowling Green's Delafield neighborhood, many older adults face hazards that make aging in place difficult. HOTEL INC addressed this by offering five home safety trainings for 55 residents and creating a display of affordable accessibility products. Volunteers completed simple modifications in 15 homes and distributed dozens of safety items, while more than 150 motion-sensor night lights were provided through trainings and displays. Residents reported greater independence, such as easier kitchen access and reduced fall risks. The effort built trust and sparked conversations about broader livability improvements like sidewalks and parks.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Mooresburg, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: Unsafe steps, leaking roofs and poor lighting left many older adults in Mooresburg at risk of falls and unable to age in place. Volunteers rebuilt porches and ramps with anti-slip features, repaired camper roofs and provided fire extinguishers and de-icing supplies to improve safety for residents and meal delivery volunteers. These changes made homes more accessible and reduced hazards, while opening lines of communication for future help. One visually impaired resident said she finally feels comfortable going outside after repeated falls, a change that restored her confidence and independence.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Memphis, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: Older adults faced heightened safety risks at home, especially related to fire prevention and emergency preparedness. Many residents lacked clear plans, equipment and practical guidance on how to shelter in place during emergencies. The Center addressed this gap by hosting a community safety and preparedness event designed specifically for residents age 50 and over. Participants received hands on education about fire risks, exit planning and the safe use of alternative heat sources, along with fire extinguishers and safety materials to use at home. The event emphasized practical steps older adults could take immediately to reduce risk. One participant, who had experienced a house fire earlier in the year, shared how panic and injury underscored the importance of knowing exits and planning ahead, noting that receiving a fire extinguisher changed how she prepares for emergencies.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Houston, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Fit Houston addressed safety and access gaps that made walking difficult for older adults in several neighborhoods connected to a bayou trail corridor. Residents had limited opportunities to share firsthand concerns about sidewalks, crossings and routes they rely on to reach parks and everyday destinations. Through four walk audits, Fit Houston walked alongside residents, documented hazards and accessibility barriers and identified priority corridors frequently used by older adults. The effort also built local partnerships and equipped the team with the skills to conduct future audits. Findings from the audits elevated resident voices in county planning discussions and are shaping follow-up conversations with planners about funding and next steps. In some areas, the work prompted advocacy where residents described long-standing frustrations with local utility responsiveness, grounding future infrastructure plans in lived experience rather than assumptions.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Richmond, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Bike Audits
Description: Cracked asphalt trails at Four Corners Park limited safe walking and biking for older adults and stalled plans for a tricycle lending program. Fit Houston led two audits with county staff and participants age 50-plus, identifying hazards and advocating for improvements. The effort prompted Fort Bend County to allocate $600,000 for a new 12- to 14-foot concrete trail and spurred collaboration on mapping regional trail connections. Educational materials for trike safety were also developed, giving older adults a role in shaping safer, more accessible recreation spaces.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP Texas State Office
1905 Aldrich St
Suite 210
Austin, TX 78723
United States