Colorado Springs, Colorado Print
Joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network:
10/16/2015
Lead Agency: Innovations in Aging Collaborative
Non-profit
Action Plan Download
The Age-Friendly Pikes Peak plan (2023-2028) aims to create a better community for all ages, focusing on 5 areas: Housing, Workforce, Health and Wellness, Age-Friendly Environment, and Social Connections and Communications. Housing will be improved through universal design and innovative living arrangements. Health and Wellness initiatives will increase access to comprehensive health services and support for caregivers. An Age-Friendly Environment will be promoted by facilitating safe movement between homes and public spaces, improving accessibility. Social Connections and Communications will be strengthened by decreasing barriers to participation, diversifying communication channels, and educating community members. The Workforce focus will value the contributions of older adults, encouraging intergenerational workplaces, and addressing workforce shortages through recruitment, retention, and training efforts.
Action Plan Highlights
Housing
The plan supports aging-in-community by creating a toolkit for homeowners, coordinating an awareness campaign, and collaborating with partners to provide accessible resources. It emphasizes financial planning for older adults and aims to develop or promote an online resource library. The plan expands age-friendly housing by identifying key stakeholders, training champions in planning and zoning, reviewing zoning codes and HOA standards, and hosting networking events. It also advocates for innovative housing solutions such as ADUs, modular designs, and 3D-printed homes. Additionally, it expands home modifications and rehabilitations through community partnerships.Health and Community Services
The Age-Friendly Pikes Peak action plan aims to elevate the role of caregivers and ensure access to health and wellness services for the elderly. Strategies include streamlining services for caregivers, developing a caregiver network, and conducting research on caregiving models. Efforts are also being made to expand dementia-friendly initiatives, predict future healthcare needs, and promote gerontechnology. The plan additionally seeks to reimagine wellness through the development of mental health first aid training for different communities, broadening fitness programs, creating Age-Friendly messaging, and expanding wellness class partnerships.Outdoor Spaces
The Age-Friendly Pikes Peak action plan aims to make outdoor spaces more accessible and inviting for all ages. This involves collaborating with Parks and Recreation to improve accessibility, conducting safety and accessibility audits, evaluating Panorama Park as an intergenerational destination, and having an Age-Friendly champion on Trails and Open Spaces and Parks and Recreation committees. The plan also includes partnering with various community organizations to understand how older adults and diverse cultures engage with outdoor spaces, and piloting intergenerational community gardens with Pikes Peak Urban Gardens.
