By the year 2030, adults aged 65 and older will outnumber children in the United States for the first time in history. This shift raises an important question: are our communities ready? Right now, only one percent of U.S. homes meet basic accessibility criteria. That reality means most communities are not designed to support people as they age.

In this episode of This is Getting Old: Moving Towards an Age-Friendly World, I welcome Shannon Guzman, Director of Housing and Livable Communities at AARP’s Public Policy Institute. Shannon helps us explore what it means to create livable communities and how the AARP Livability Index is guiding cities, towns, and neighborhoods across the country. Her insights highlight both the urgency and the opportunity in reshaping the spaces where we live.

Shannon explains how demographic shifts—an aging population, greater diversity, more people living alone, and more multigenerational households—are redefining community life. Yet most communities were never designed with aging in mind. Limited housing options, high housing costs, and physical barriers leave older adults without the choices they need. These challenges can isolate people and deepen health disparities, with life expectancy differences of up to 15 years between neighborhoods in the same city.

The AARP Livability Index offers a practical solution. By scoring every neighborhood in the U.S. on housing, transportation, health, opportunity, environment, and more, it helps communities see where they are strong and where they can improve. No place scores a perfect 100, but every community can use the Index to plan smarter, more inclusive policies. Shannon walks us through examples of how local leaders and residents are using the Index to advocate for safer streets, affordable housing, and better access to health care and broadband.

What stands out is that livable communities are not just about older adults—they benefit everyone. From zoning updates and volunteer driver programs to inclusive housing policies, the changes Shannon outlines strengthen community life across all ages. The Index also empowers individuals, whether you’re a caregiver choosing a neighborhood for a loved one or someone planning for your own future.

If you want to know how livable your community is, the AARP Livability Index is an excellent place to start. This conversation is a roadmap for reimagining how we age and how we live together. I invite you to connect with the GW Center for Aging, Health and Humanities, join our Building Age-Friendly Ecosystems Facebook group, and continue this important conversation. Together, we can keep moving toward a world where age is not a barrier but a strength. If you found this helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, Melissa B PhD, for more insights on dementia care and aging.