Englewood age-friendly plan proposes work on housing, mobility and connection
The three-to-five-year roadmap would coordinate proposed efforts to help older residents remain at home, get around and stay connected.
Englewood staff are scheduled to present a three-to-five-year Age-Friendly Action Plan to City Council on Sept. 14. The roadmap proposes citywide efforts to help older residents remain in their homes, get around and stay connected as the older population grows.
The study-session packet describes the plan as a roadmap, not an approved program. Staff are asking council to receive the presentation and provide input during the 6 p.m. study session.
The plan estimates that Englewood has about 10,650 residents age 50 and older, including nearly 4,800 residents age 65 and older. Residents 65 and older are projected to make up about 17% of the city’s population by 2030, while the population age 80 and older is projected to grow from 1,143 in 2020 to 1,805 in 2030.
The plan’s three focus areas are aging in place, mobility, and social connection and community building. Staff developed it using surveys in English and Spanish, interviews, focus groups, town halls, a Healthy Aging Expo and staff work sessions.
Helping residents age in place
The plan proposes expanding information about home modifications, service providers and accessible housing. It also calls for home-safety assessments, education about downsizing and home sharing, and volunteer help with yard work, seasonal cleanup, minor repairs and other household tasks.
Affordable Housing is listed as the lead for work involving flexible and affordable housing options, accessibility features and housing education. The Neighborhood Engagement Specialist is listed as the lead for a long-term volunteer effort, with A Little Help, Spark-Project Helping and RoadMap for Aging as partners.
Coordinating transportation
Transportation proposals include mobility audits focused on sidewalks, crossings, lighting and benches; exploring transportation to grocery stores, medical appointments, parks and community facilities; and improving coordination among berT, the Regional Transportation District and other providers.
The plan also calls for hands-on education and guided public-transit outings. Identifying transportation improvements and conducting mobility audits are listed as near-term work. Malley Recreation Center is listed as a partner on both efforts and as a lead for much of the transportation education, coordination and guided-trip work.
More opportunities to connect
The plan proposes more evening and weekend activities, intergenerational programming, neighborhood events and community gatherings. It also calls for digital and nondigital communication so residents can find information and participate in age-friendly work.
Malley Recreation Center would serve as the coordinating hub. The Senior Services Manager and Malley staff would track implementation, while responsibility would be shared among city departments, residents, community organizations and other partners. The plan identifies more than 100 current and potential partners, including the library, AgeWise Colorado and the Denver Regional Mobility and Access Council.
A proposed dashboard would track each action’s role, timing, status and next steps. The plan also calls for twice-yearly gatherings of participating departments and community organizations and an annual community conversation with residents.
The financial section describes implementation as having minimal immediate financial implications while calling for future budget enhancements for a Resource and Service Navigator to help older adults find services and resources. It does not specify an amount or establish that the position has been funded.