Livable Communities for All Ages: International Planner Engagement Survey and Best Practices
By Timothy D. Van Epp, FAICP; Stephanie K. Firestone; Dr. Mildred Warner; Xue Zhang; Greyson Clark
As part of the APA Divisions Council initiative on Aging and Livable Communities, APA's International Division partnered with AARP, Arup, and Cornell University to conduct an international survey of planners to raise awareness about techniques, tools, and best practices for planners seeking to promote age friendly planning in the U.S. and internationally.
The international survey, conducted in fall 2017, explored planners' incorporation of Livable Communities for All Ages (LCA) principles. The survey garnered responses from 559 planners from 33 countries including the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, Europe, Canada, and the Global South (Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East).
The survey contained over 70 questions about local governments' and planners' motivations and actions, and barriers to incorporating LCA considerations in planning. The survey also assessed the effectiveness of practices and strategies to engage planners in LCA approaches.