Building Age-Friendly Communities Across Michigan

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2034 the nation will have more people age 65 or older than under 18. By 2060, nearly 1 in 4 people in the United States will be at least 65 years old. Those aren't just fun facts. They are a wake-up call for communities to start planning for a future where aging well is the norm, not the exception.

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Enter: The AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities

Since 2012, this network has been helping local, regional and state governments get ahead of the curve. The goal? Make places more livable for people of all ages with a special focus on older adults. Think walkable streets, accessible housing, social connection and smart transportation.

Michigan Steps Up

In 2019, the State of Michigan made history by becoming the first state in the Midwest, and sixth in the nation, to join the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities and States. Their key initiatives include increasing the number of older adults participating in wellness programs, improving older adults' access to information and helping state agencies understand the needs and challenges faced by older adults.

Meet Michigan's Age-Friendly Communities

Fifteen Michigan communities have joined the movement: Albion, Auburn Hills, Brooklyn, Clawson, Detroit, East Lansing, Escanaba, Grand Rapids, Highland Park, Jackson, Lansing, Oak Park, Royal Oak, Southfield and Traverse City.. Detroit, Albion and the State of Michigan even got a shoutout in this special Bulletin article!

Learn more about how long-time member communities Grand Rapids, Auburn Hills and East Lansing have made their cities more age-friendly:

AARP Community Challenge Grant

The AARP Community Challenge Grant focuses on making communities more livable for people of all ages, with projects ranging from pedestrian safety upgrades to digital inclusion efforts. Since 2017, AARP Michigan has awarded 52 grants and more than $663,000 through the program to nonprofit organizations and government entities across the state.

Hear directly from Grand Rapids' Lions and Rabbits Center for the Arts and Detroit's Canfield Consortium on how the Challenge Grant impacted their work:

AARP Michigan Age-Friendly Communities Grant

The AARP Michigan Age-Friendly Communities Grant program is specifically for Michigan communities, designed to support initiatives that enhance the livability of communities. In 2025, the first year of this program, AARP Michigan awarded $10,000 to support age-friendly projects in Grand Rapids and River Rouge.