Livable Communities
By 2034, adults over the age of 65 are expected to outnumber children under the age of 18 for the first time in U.S. history. There are now more residents in Massachusetts over 60 than under 20. Because of these changing demographics, municipalities are reviewing their built and social environments to ensure communities are livable for people of all ages and abilities.
OCPC has been collaborating with municipalities to develop Livable Community Action Plans, also known as Age- and Dementia-Friendly Action Plans. These three-year plans outline steps a community can take to improve livability in one or more of eight important areas:
OCPC Supports cities and towns as they...
- Join the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities
- Join the Dementia Friendly America Network of Communities
- Establish a municipal committee of volunteers to lead the initiative and monitor progress
- Develop a Livable for All Action Plan focused on one or more Domains of Livability
- Survey the community
- Interview local experts
- Conduct focus groups
- Hear from regional- and state-level experts
- Harness volunteer power
- Encourage and enable community participation
- Implement the plan and find funding sources for it
Frequently Asked Questions
An age-friendly city or town is a place where everyone, no matter their age, can move around easily, feel connected, and thrive. It’s about creating vibrant public spaces, accessible transportation, and housing that lets people stay in their communities as they grow older. When we design with older adults in mind, we build places that work better for everyone—parents with strollers, people with disabilities, and future generations. A truly great place is one where aging is not a challenge but an opportunity to live fully at every stage of life.
A dementia-friendly community recognizes, respects, and supports people living with dementia, allowing them to stay engaged and independent for as long as possible. It means having clear signage, walkable and safe public spaces, trained businesses and services that understand dementia, and a culture of patience and inclusion. When a community is dementia-friendly, people don’t have to navigate their world alone—they’re met with understanding, support, and a sense of belonging. It’s about making sure that memory loss doesn’t mean losing connection, dignity, or the ability to be part of everyday life.
There is a vast amount of resources available online. The following list is a great place to start. Please also contact your local Council on Aging (find yours here).
- AARP Livable Communities
- Dementia Friendly America
- American Planning Association (search for ‘age-friendly’ and ‘dementia-friendly’)
- Massachusetts Councils on Aging
- Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative
- Age Friendly Massachusetts
Municipalities fund action plans in different ways: general funds, municipal staff time, local volunteer power, state grants, philanthropic grants, and/or regional planning agency technical assistance. If your municipality is considering developing an Action Plan, please get in touch with us so we can advise you of your options.
OCPC-Supported Initiatives
Staff Contacts
Joanne Zygmunt, Senior Planner
David Klein, Area Agency on Aging Administrator
Regional Status
| Joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network | Dementia Friendly America Network | |
|---|---|---|
| Avon | ✓ | |
| Brockton | 2020 | |
| Duxbury | 2022 | ✓ |
| Easton | 2018 | |
| Kingston | In progress | In progress |
| Plymouth | 2024 | ✓ |
Communities in Action
Volunteer Power
Over 60 volunteers are leading initiatives in Duxbury to improve livability across all eight domains
Business Recognition
Plymouth will soon have an age- and dementia-friendly brand and pledge for recognizing local businesses
Leveraging Funding
Kingston recently received a state Community Compact Grant to launch planning efforts in their community
