It’s time for another medical consultation with your loved one. Are you feeling overwhelmed by the task of taking your father out to his medical appointment? Does your mother’s querulous commentary embarrass you in the waiting room? Are you afraid your adult child’s flailing limbs will seem aggressive in the elevator?
The burdens of care are full of highs and lows and often the accumulation of effort weighs down on care partners. Being out and about in the public eye can highlight that weight in uncomfortable ways. There is dignity and dedication in caregiving and your efforts are worthy of respect. Your loved one is worthy of acknowledgement. How can we build into our society at large compassion and respect for care partners?
Remember, 35 years ago in1990, when the first curb ramps began to appear alongside the Americans with Disabilities Act? Today, traveling around the globe you can hear walk signs chirping or see them counting down to aid those who lack sight or hearing or have attention deficits. Yes, even the person with eyes glued to their phone who pushes off and crosses the street with the momentum of the crowd benefits from these adaptations.
This shift is very memorable to me because as an ‘80s young woman recently welcomed to work in a corporate space, I suffered a severe injury that left me on crutches for two years. It was a time when an impairment such as this would be perceived as a reflection on lack of ability in the workplace; a time when children ran away from the sight of someone struggling to push a cart in the grocery store; when I was shouted at in a parking lot and told to move my crutches out of the way.
We live in a society of the able. Navigating the world at large, beyond the confines of home, we take our safety, our anonymity, our ability to move about freely as a given. Older adults, those who are well elders, who comport themselves with ease in community spaces, are welcomed. Invited in, even.
Today, we find the infirm, the differently abled, the slow-moving, encouraged to house, to congregate, in specialized communities, out of public view. Aging is out of sight, out of mind. When they do venture forth, public spaces are often uncomfortable for those who are viewed as impediments to hurried progress. The Administration for Community Living, funding services that help people live independently, is currently scheduled to be disbanded and the fate of remaining programs within the department of Health and Human Services is unknown. And yet…
Across the country and the globe there is a movement towards age-friendly communities. The vision translates to support for the long-term presence of all ages. Advocates stand up to promote initiatives for safe neighborhoods, education and training, outdoor green spaces, healthcare options, and a vibrant range of cultural activities.
These communities are shown to be healthier, with older adults having an active participation in civic life and cultivating social ties for extended support. Most importantly, being out in public at any age is necessary for the visibility that puts needs in the path of action. When young Johnny and Janey have known Mr. and Mrs. Nextdoor since childhood, they are accepting when seeing Mrs. Nextdoor in a wheelchair. Families include them in neighborhood invitations and don’t cringe when they see Mr. Nextdoor struggling with her wheelchair on the walking path. Instead, they stop to help and have a chat, and the day is brighter for all of them.
Social participation in public spaces is an opportunity to see all your community generations in motion. The youth holding the door open, the kind words exchanged with the attendant at the fuel pump, the woman who picks up your loved one’s dropped sweater. Kindnesses in microdoses, once noted, are not forgotten. Downtown at the annual Spring Festival an older man steers with his wife in a wheelchair along the walking path. At the sidelines of a youth soccer game a dad cheers while balancing on crutches. Next to the sidewalk food stalls a multigenerational family enjoys a meal together at the outdoor tables.
This utopian view is happening right now in towns and neighborhoods prioritizing their community livability. Through thoughtful town planning and management there are cooperative partnerships with the civic organizations, faith groups, youth organizations, and infrastructure that support social spaces for all residents. It’s good for business. It’s a sign of a healthy, vibrant community
Successful age friendly communities can sustain residents throughout their lifespan and attract newcomers to prevent population stagnation. Having a variety of housing options makes it possible remain in community. Meeting new people of all generations refreshes our perspective on the hopes and dreams of others. The combination of comfortable familiarity and the stimulation of new perspectives presents opportunities for individuals, neighborhoods, and communities to feel supported and actively engaged with purpose for the future.
©April 2025 clairemauro.com
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Administration for Community Living
https://acl.gov/about-community-living
AARP Livable communities Newsletter
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/livable-community-news-alerts.html
Age-Friendly Ecosystems: Environments for Equitable Aging by Design (SpringerBriefs in Public Health) Valerie Chang Greer, AIA, LEED AP (ed.) Linda S. Edelman, PhD, RN. (ed.) Springer. 2024.
Age Friendly Massachusetts
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/age-friendly-massachusetts
Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative
https://mahealthyagingcollaborative.org/age-friendly/dfaf-report/
Rutgers School of Social Work Age Friendly Communities Movement in Action
https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/centers/hub-aging-collaboration/projects/age-friendly