Carbon County, aiming to be age-friendly, aligns with national network

Cities tend to be dangerous and difficult places to live for older residents. A private public partnership in New York is catering to seniors through small changes in the city such as para-transit options and seniors-only hours at public establishments.

A startling 70% of blind persons in the United States are unemployed. The Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind is helping shift the understanding of what types of jobs are available to this population with a revolutionary factory built specifically for its blind employees. Each machine is retrofitted to be used safely and easily, empowering individuals to become more independent. This video takes you inside the factory to meet some of the workers.

Disability activists have used nonviolent direct action for decades, including lying in the street to protest inaccessible public transit and crawling up the steps of the U.S. Capital to support the Americans with Disabilities Act. “We have never gone out a door that we do not have a solution for,” says ADAPT member Dawn Russell. “That’s ADAPT 101.”

For the growing number of adults with autism or other neurodivergencies, the First Place apartment complex is purposely designed to provide services and independent living, and to combat long waits for other supportive housing. The complex is one of the first of its kind and has a variety of funding sources, but at a monthly rent of $3300, it's not affordable for all families.

A Colorado bike builder creates adapted cycles for athletes who otherwise rely on wheelchairs for mobility. The cycles allow adventurous people with disabilities to ride trails and access difficult terrain.

The Boston Senior Civic Academy teaches older adults how to stay informed about and involved in local politics, covering issues from financial insecurity to dementia-friendly city planning. The program, which serves elders across the city and is part of a world-wide push to create elder-friendly cities, invites older adults to take an active role in politics and advocacy, and gives them the tools to do so.

An organization in Portland, Maine ensures Baby Boomers who want to work are adequately trained and accepted in the work place. The Boomer Institute works with social security caps and flexible work hours, both of which prove to be obstacles for individuals looking for work after retirement.

At Madwaleni Hospital's rehabilitation ward in South Africa, medical professionals and physical therapists are using what is known as block therapy to better help individuals who are living with a disability. Rather than individuals visiting the hospital at frequent, regular intervals, the healthcare workers here to see the patients for one-week periods less frequently. This doesn't just cut down on barriers, such as the cost of care and lack of transportation, but has also been shown to help individuals better retain the rehabilitation lessons and recover faster.

AARP is providing the framework, resources and accountability for local governments to make their cities more senior-friendly. From transportation, to health and community services, 450 communities across the country - and two in Montana - have pledged to work toward specific goals within five years. Carbon County has been working on improvements since 2018 and has reevaluated its efforts in the wake of a pandemic that has highlighted the specific vulnerabilities faced by senior citizens.

The Age Nigeria Foundation helps end the loneliness, abuse, and hunger of the elderly in Lagos State. The organization runs socialization centers, takes up legal cases to defend members, and provides them with food.