Promising Practices and How-To's
Field-tested strategies and "livable lessons" for creating great places for people of all ages
Featured How-To
Pop-Up Project: Bethel Better Block
A Vermont Main Street is temporarily transformed to show its potential
More How-To's
How to Effectively (and Respectfully) Help a Community in Crisis
Advice and observations from AARP Michigan after working on the ground in Flint
How Leaders Can Connect With Their Community
We asked AARP staff and volunteers to tell us about the outreach and engagement efforts they see working in towns, cities and communities nationwide
This High School Has a Senior Center
How a shared-space solution helped Swampscott, Massachusetts, save money and serve residents of many ages
How Block Parties Can Build Bridges
A bottom-up project in Saint Paul, Minnesota, works with residents to revitalize neighborhoods ripped apart by Interstate 94
Advice from the Friendly Streets Initiative
Strategies for success from working on the ground in Saint Paul, Minnesota
How to Create a Community Advocate Program
Sometimes, to make a community livable, a community (in this case, the suburban city of Maricopa, Arizona) needs to advocate for itself
How to Make Communities More Livable for People With Vision or Hearing Impairments
Inclusive design and smart solutions prevent isolation and enable independence
How to Play Pickleball and Other Age-Friendly Games
Shuffleboard is so yesterday. Pickleball, cornhole, disc golf, drumming and various bowling games are helping young and old stay physically active, have fun and connect with one another
How to Create an Aging Well Resource Center
With nearly 40 percent of its population age 50-plus, Littleton, Colorado, is helping older adults and caregivers navigate some of life's daily challenges
How To Get People Dancing in Public Places
Two octogenarians bring their fancy footwork to the supermarket and inspire others to as well
How to Create a "Handy Tools" Display
Certain household utensils and gadgets can be very helpful to older adults — if they know which ones to look for and how to use them
How to Go Car-Free (or Car-Lite)
10 tips for testing the waters or taking the plunge
How to Plant 99 Street Trees in Just a Few Hours
Greenery is helping grow community engagement in an urban business district
Create, Maintain and Manage an Intergenerational Community Garden
With fresh produce hard for many residents to come by, Newport, Vermont, gets down and dirty
How to Create a Parklet
In places crowded with streets and structures, small open spaces (even those as small as a parking spot) can provide lots of room to relax
How to Organize a Ciclovia or Open Streets Event
When roads are closed to cars and trucks (as Brownsville, Texas, does several times a year), people can safely walk, bicycle and even dance in the streets
How to Encourage More 'Lifelong' Housing
The U.S. population is rapidly aging, yet few homes are age- and accessibility-friendly. Here's how community leaders in Oregon's Rogue Valley are working to change that
How to Get a Traffic Light Installed
When pedestrians in South Austin, Texas, couldn’t safely cross the road, they spoke out, stepped up and succeeded
How to Challenge Your Community to Change for the Better — in 100 Days or Less
Quick, frequent wins keep participants engaged, build needed momentum and get the work done
How to Create a Grandparents Park
In need of a place for children and adults to spend more time together outdoors, Wichita, Kansas, builds a playground for all ages
How to Involve the Right Players in a Livable Communities Plan
AARP state offices in Kansas, Vermont and Arkansas share tips for getting off to a good start with key stakeholders
How to Work With Public Health to Advance Livable Communities
There's a strong and important connection between health and livability efforts
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