Domain 4: Social Participation
Tools and resources for working within the "8 Domains of Livability" to create livable communities for the benefit of older adults and people of all ages
Related Resources
Fun social activities are important for people of all ages. — Getty Images
Regardless of a person's age, loneliness is often as debilitating a health condition as having a chronic illness or disease. Sadness and isolation can be combatted by the availability of accessible, affordable and fun social activities.
The following list of resources — from AARP and elsewhere — relate to Domain 4 of the "8 Domains of Livability." The content is categorized into two groups by level of difficulty, with the first group generally being the easiest reads for people new to this work.
Introductory and Easy-to-Use Resources
- Feel Good: Volunteer with AARP Foundation Tax-Aide
The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program is the nation's largest volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service. This website explains how individuals can volunteer — even if they don't have an accounting or finance background. (AARP)
- Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ Your Library
Created to help librarians provide services to older adults, this "outreach tool kit" contains advice on programming, accessibility concerns, funding, engagement, implementation, model programs and more. (American Library Association)
- Shared User Agreements: Sharing School Recreational Facilities with the Community
Shared use agreements allow school districts, local governments and community-based organizations to share costs and responsibilities by allowing school properties and similar facilities to be used by the public during non-school hours. (American Heart Association)
Tool Kits and Comprehensive Overviews
- Loneliness and Isolation: Guidance for Local Authorities and Commissioners
Developed by a United Kingdom-based network of national, regional and local organizations, this online framework and guide helps local governments and others best address and prevent the loneliness experienced by older people. (Campaign to End Loneliness)
- Promoting Physical Activity Through the Shared Use of School and Community Recreational Resources
Providing access to safe, inexpensive and convenient recreational facilities is a significant strategy and cost-effective way to help children and adults be more active, especially in lower-income neighborhoods that often lack such opportunities. (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
Published Summer 2015. Compiled by Katelyn Dwyer and Joseph Cheatham.
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