Initiative Information

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Across the globe, people are living longer and our populations are growing older. Miami-Dade has the largest population of older adults in the State of Florida with over half a million older adults age 60 and over in the County; and that population is expected to continue to grow to over 800,000 by 2040, representing 25% of the total population of Miami-Dade County (Source: Florida Population Studies: Population Projections by Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin for Florida and Its Counties 2015-2040 with Estimates for 2013, University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research). But, most communities were not built for this shift in demographics. Our economies, policies, and communities were not built to accommodate an aging population or aging in place. How well Miami-Dade responds to the aging phenomenon and meets the needs of older adults will depend on how well we prepare our communities to do so, and how we can work collectively toward sustainable change to ensure our community is a place where people of all ages can live with the quality of life that they need and deserve.

MISSION
The Miami-Dade Age-Friendly Initiative is a collaborative effort focused on sustainable changes and efforts in order to create a community where older adults of all ages can stay active, engaged, and healthy with dignity and enjoyment.

LEADERSHIP
The first three years of the initiative were made possible by Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) Community Agenda: Improving America for All Ages, with funds from the Pfizer Foundation collaborated with local partners to create the Miami-Dade Age-Friendly Initiative. Today, the initiative continues and is led by a Leadership Committee and coordinating agencies that include:

• AARP Florida
• Alliance for Aging
• Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County
• Health Foundation of South Florida
• Miami-Dade County
• Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization
• United Way of Miami-Dade
• Urban Health Partnerships

The initiative is also comprised of a Advisory Committee made up of traditional and non-traditional stakeholders across multiple sectors who recognize the value and need for an age-friendly Miami-Dade.

Accomplishments

Focused on building momentum, implementing strategies, and raising awareness of the needs of our aging population, the Miami-Dade Age-Friendly Initiative has advanced significant milestones to make the county more inclusive and livable for residents of all ages.

AGE-FRIENDLY LEADERSHIP

• An Advisory Committee has been developed and sustained throughout the Initiative.
• The Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Office has consistently pledged its support for the Initiative.
• Our current lead agencies are as follows: AARP Florida, Alliance for Aging, Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade, Miami-Dade County, MDC Transportation and Planning Organization (TPO), United Way Miami, Urban Health Partnerships. All were original members and continue their commitment to the Initiative.
• A local leaders’ pledge was developed and promoted by then County Mayor Carlos Gimenez as part of the Mayor’s Challenge.
• As of 2024, Miami-Dade County and United Way continue to provide sustained funding over these last six years each year to support activities ranging from community surveys to program implementation.
• The Initiative activated Urban Health Partnerships’ Community Liaison Framework, hiring and training older adult residents as community advocates to canvass their neighborhoods and disseminate surveys.
• The City of Miami launched EMPOWER60, a civic engagement academy for older adults, which trained residents to become neighborhood leaders and reached more than 240 residents.
• Launched and implemented Age-Friendly Mini-Grants program to support age-friendly projects

AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN & SURVEY

• A multi-sectoral workgroup was created, bringing together representatives from lead agencies, the Advisory Committee, and key community stakeholders to design strategies for Miami-Dade’s first Action Plan.
• The first Action Plan was developed and launched with a focus on Outdoor Spaces & Buildings, Transportation, and Housing.
• Infographics and maps were created to illustrate needs and priority areas.
• In 2017, over 2,000 older adults participated in surveys that informed the first Plan update.
• The 2017 Community Action Plan was updated and republished in 2021.
• In 2024, a new county-wide survey collected 637 responses from older adults, engaging them through “Survey Socials” hosted in partnership with municipalities, senior centers, parks, libraries, other community-based organizations, and more.
• Findings informed the 2025–2030 Community Action Plan, published in 2025.

AGE-FRIENDLY PARKS

• A county-wide Age-Friendly Parks designation process was created.
• The MDC Age-Friendly Parks Toolkit was developed and completed to guide other communities.
• Thirteen parks in the Miami-Dade Parks system have now been officially designated as Age-Friendly, with improvements such as accessible paths, benches, shade, and restrooms.
• The Active Older Adults pilot program launched to encourage park visits, physical activity, and social engagement through guided field trips.
• Specific age-friendly capital improvements were identified and added to future funding lists.
• The City of North Miami launched the Enchanted Forest Park project, enhancing accessibility and intergenerational programming.

AGE-FRIENDLY LIBRARIES

• In 2023 through 2024, an Age-Friendly Library guide was developed and created.
• In May 2025, the Initiative launched the Age-Friendly Library Certification Toolkit, developed somewhat from the guide, in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Public Library System.
• Miami-Dade became the second library system in Florida to earn this certification. With 50 branches, this system reaches more than 3 million residents.

AGE-FRIENDLY POLICIES

• Recommended age-friendly changes were integrated into Miami-Dade County’s Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP) and adopted by the County Commission and the State.
• Age-friendly considerations were included in the County’s Long Range Transportation Plans: Plan 2040 and Plan 2050, which promote mobility, safety, sustainability, and equity.
• The SMART Street Transportation Enhancement Program (STEP) was launched to recommend safety improvements to sidewalks for older adults and those with mobility challenges.
• An Age-Friendly Housing Policy Scan was conducted, analyzing best practices such as accessibility, universal design, accessory dwelling units, and microunits, while highlighting the urgent need for affordable, adaptable housing.
• The Miami-Dade Complete Streets Design Guidelines (2017) incorporated considerations for older adults.
• The Initiative presented testimony to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging to advocate for age-friendly communities.
• The Safe Routes to Age in Place (SRTAP) Initiative was launched in Little Havana to empower residents to identify safety needs. The project was included in the WHO Global Database of Age-Friendly Practices. Results were published in the Journal of Gerontological Nursing.

AGE-FRIENDLY AWARENESS

• Miami-Dade’s Age-Friendly Summits garnered over 300 attendees.
• The Initiative commissioned a study on community leader attitudes toward aging issues.
• Community discussion groups were held to document the lived experiences of older adults in housing, transportation, and outdoor spaces.
• In 2023, the Initiative’s newsletter was relaunched as an interactive digital flipbook, spotlighting municipalities, events, and resources.
• AFI delivered external presentations at the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade Elder Issues Committee and United Way’s educational sessions, strengthening its role in local health, education, and economic mobility strategies.
• ArtSouth hosted an age-friendly painting workshop series that fostered creativity and connection among older adults.

AGE-FRIENDLY BUSINESS

• Partnered with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and workforce agencies to promote older adult employment opportunities.
• Produced promotional videos highlighting older adults in the workforce.
• Created an Age-Friendly Business District in Little Havana, with over 25 businesses offering senior incentives.
• Developed an Age-Friendly Business District Toolkit for replication in other communities.

AGE-FRIENDLY DESIGNATION

• Miami-Dade County applied and was accepted into the WHO and AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities.
• To date, 14 municipalities and communities in Miami-Dade have joined the network: Cutler Bay, Pinecrest, Miami-Dade County, Palmetto Bay, Coral Gables, Miami Lakes, Miami, Miami Shores, Miami Beach, Doral, Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Healthy West Kendall, and Key Biscayne.

Join Our Advisory Committee

The Miami-Dade Age-Friendly Older Adults Initiative Advisory Committee helps advise, support, and advocate for the efforts of the Miami-Dade Age-Friendly Initiative. Members of the committee are individuals in related fields or representing organizations that share in the initiative’s mission to create a metropolitan area that fosters a physical and social environment for older adults of all ages to stay active and healthy with dignity and enjoyment.

To express interest in joining the committee, please click here.

To view upcoming meetings, please visit our events page.

Join Our Stakeholder Advisory Committee 

The Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, such as government, community organizations, healthcare providers, and older adult advocates, to collaborate on efforts to improve the health and quality of life for our aging population.

To express interest in joining the committee, please click here.

To view upcoming meetings, please visit our events page.