WHY build Communities for All Ages?

Demographic shifts in America are having a profound effect on communities, most of which are unprepared to negotiate the changes. The “graying of America” is narrowing the gap between the percentage of older adults and children/youth in the total U.S. population. By 2030 these groups will be roughly the same in size; each will comprise about 22 percent of the population.

The potential of both older adults and youth to make significant contributions to their communities is great, however often these two groups are seen as problems rather than resources. This view is compounded by the age-segregated framework in which, most communities operate. Solutions to chronic social problems—inadequate child care, limited housing options, poor schools, and lack of support for caregiving families—elude discovery because each problem is addressed by agencies focused on age-specific rather than whole-community solutions.

Existing community building efforts reinforce this age-segregated approach by focusing on creating either “elder-friendly” or “youth-friendly” places to live. This encourages competition for scarce resources, diminishes human connectedness, and squanders valuable sources of social capital. Even the most longstanding and widely adopted programs address discrete problems, not the system that is the root cause.

Most advocates for children, youth, and older adults have not yet recognized the need to come together as allies to develop a comprehensive, shared agenda. Although there are a growing number of programs that bring generations together to address specific needs, these programs cannot be sustained unless they are embedded in communities that embrace policies, practices, and partnerships that are life-span focused and promote interdependence.



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NEEDS PHOTO - use people around the table in Phoenix.