Read on to learn about the 8 domains of livability, why they are important, and the Miami-Dade Age-Friendly Initiative’s vision for an age-friendly community.
Age-Friendly Domains
OUTDOOR SPACES & BUILDINGS
Age-friendly  outdoor  spaces  and  parks  are  those  that  are  clean  and  pleasant  with  green  spaces  and outdoor  seating,  adequate  pedestrian  infrastructure  that  includes  well  maintained  and  unobstructed sidewalks,  appropriate  curbs  to  accommodate  wheelchairs,  and  pedestrian  crossings  that  allow enough  time  for seniors  to  safely  cross  among  other  features.  Additionally,  the  buildings  and businesses Âwithin Âthem Âshould Âbe Âsimilarly Âsecure, Âwelcoming Âand, Âaccessible Âfor Âall Âages.
Vision for Miami-Dade County: Older adults have a safe and enjoyable physical environment in which to live and be active.
TRANSPORTATION
Since  mobility  declines  with  aging,  an  age-friendly  community  needs  to  have  a  variety of  reliable transportation options,  and  all  areas  and  services  in  a  community  need  to  be  accessible  by  public transportation Âand Âbe adapted to Âaccommodate Âdisabled people. ÂThe Âavailability Âof Âdifferent Âoptions and Âmodes Âof transportation Âis Âalso Âimportant to Âmeet Âthe Âneeds of Âolder adults.
Vision for Miami-Dade County: Older adults utilize a variety of types of transportation they want and need to move throughout the community.
HOUSING
An  age-friendly  community  must  have  housing  available  that is  affordable,  located  in  safe neighborhoods,  and  in close  proximity to  businesses  and  services  in  the  community. In  addition, housing Âthat Âis Ânear Âpublic Âtransit Âor Âhas Âlinks Âto Âpublic Âtransit Âmake Âit Âeasier Âfor Âpeople Âof Âall Âages Âto live  in  and  get  around. Furthermore,  adapted  housing  that  meets the  needs  of all ages including older adults  and disabled Âpeople should Âbe Âprovided.
Vision for Miami-Dade County: Housing for older adults is affordable, accessible, and adapted to their needs and interests.
SOCIAL PARTICIPATION
An Âage-friendly Âcommunity Âshould Âhave Âaffordable Âand Âconveniently located Âevents, Âactivities, Âand opportunity Âfor Âsocial Âengagement tailored Âto Âall Âages, Âincluding Âolder adults.
Vision for Miami-Dade County: Older adults enjoy a wide range of opportunities for social participation.
RESPECT & SOCIAL INCLUSION
An Âage-friendly Âcity Âpromotes Âawareness Âand Âunderstands Âthe Âvalue and Âneeds Âof Âolder Âadults. Additionally, Âthe Âinput Âof Âolder adults Âshould Âbe Âincluded Âin Âthe Âdecision-making Âprocess Âfor Âall aspects and Âareas Âof Âthe Âcommunity.
Vision for Miami-Dade County: Older adults feel welcomed and valued in all community settings.
CIVIC PARTICIPATION & EMPLOYMENT
The Âavailability Âof Âsufficient Âand Âvaried Âemployment,Âvolunteering and Âtraining Âprogram Âopportunities tailored Âto Âolder Âadults Âis Âalso Âkey Âto Âan Âage-friendly community. Similar Âto Âdomain Âfive, Âolder Âadults should Âbe Âincluded Âin Âthe Âdecision-making Âin Âboth Âprivate Âand Âpublic Âsectors Âto Âeffectively Âmeet Âtheir needs.
Vision for Miami-Dade County: Older adults have a wide range of employment and civic engagement opportunities.
COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION
In Âan Âage-friendly Âcommunity, Âit Âis Âimportant Âto Âhave Âcontinued and Âwidespread Âdistribution Âof information, Âtherefore Âan Âefficient communication Âsystem Âneeds Âbe Âin Âplace Âto Âreach Âall Âindividuals and Âeffectively Âinform Âresidents Âof Âthe Âservices, Âprograms Âand resources Âavailable.
Vision for Miami-Dade County: The broader community is aware and knowledgeable about the presence, value, needs and wants of older adults.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT & HEALTH SERVICES
In Âorder Âto Âmeet Âthe Âneeds Âof Âolder Âadults, Âan Âage-friendly community Âneeds Âto Âprovide Âadequate access Âto Âall Âlevels Âof health care Âand Âoffer Âservices Âthat Âpromote, Âmaintain Âand Ârestore health. Community support Âincluding Âdelivery Âof Âservices, Âsocial Âservices and Âwidespread Âinformation Âand resources Âfor Âemergency Âplanning Âis a vital Âcomponent of healthy aging.
Vision for Miami-Dade County: Older adults are supported by quality health care, community based wellness and supportive services.
Lead Agencies
Our partners include the following lead agencies: 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, and Urban Health Partnerships.
