More than half (55%) of adults 50-plus engage in one or two walking activities in a typical week, while most (86%) walk for 10 minutes or more, and nearly half (47%) walk for at least 30 minutes, according to a survey report supported by AARP
Most respondents agree walking is beneficial for improving physical health (91%), fitness (83%), mental health (75%), and brain health (59%). Continue reading
With an interactive map and local road search, WalkBoston is debuting a tool called “How to Report a Problem” to help local residents report problems and concerns with road and sidewalk conditions. In Massachusetts, there are no universal reporting standards, which highlights the need for such a tool. Continue reading
As part of the Benchmarking Project from the League of American Bicyclists to report and analyze public data about biking and walking, the organization is publishing fact sheets on biking and walking for each of the 50 states and 76 cities.
The project is part of an effort to better publicize existing data to understand how cities or states can get more people safely and easily biking, walking and rolling to everyday destinations, and therefore get more people physically active. Continue reading
City parks play a vital role in the social, economic, and physical well-being of America’s cities and their residents. They also play a role in inclusive age- and dementia friendly communities.
The City Parks Alliance created an infographic listing the benefits of public parks, including access to recreational opportunities, increasing property values, spurring local economies, combatting crime, and protecting cities from environmental impacts. Parks are now recognized as powerful tools for urban communities and local economies.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is kicking off its 2050 Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan, entitled Beyond Mobility, by reaching out across the state to get residents to participate in an online survey. The survey is available at the following link (https://arcg.is/0HHyPD) and will be offered in all major languages spoken in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative encourages age- and dementia friendly communities and stakeholders to complete and promote the survey in their networks to help raise the voice of older adults within the eventual plan. Continue reading
WalkBoston reports that the City of Boston is currently designing the complete reconstruction of Cummins Highway in Mattapan and they are calling out the project as Age-Friendly Cummins Highway. Continue reading
Fresh off a recent report card from the League of American Bicyclists that ranked Massachusetts as a most bike-friendly state, a partnership between MassBike and AARP Massachusetts is looking to go further by promoting bicycling for older adults. Continue reading
8 80 Cities, an organization based in Canada dedicated to enhancing parks, public spaces and mobility, in partnership with Woodgreen Community Services have come together to develop the Seniors Outdoor Activation Toolkit to support more outdoor programming, physical activity, and social connection opportunities for seniors. Continue reading
Less than half (44%) of people age 50 to 80 have ever used a health-related app on their smartphone, wearable device or tablet, according to the new findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging.
Those who say they are in poor health, and those with lower incomes or levels of education, were far less likely to have ever used such apps. Half of those who haven’t ever used a health app, or have stopped using them, said they are not interested in using them. Continue reading
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative is excited to promote a fourth round of the Shared Streets & Spaces Grant Program from the Mass. Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
The program, which awards bonus points for projects that are inclusive of older adults, provides funding to municipalities and public transit authorities to quickly implement improvements to plazas, sidewalks, curbs, streets, bus stops, parking areas, and other public spaces in support of public health, safe mobility, and strengthened commerce. Continue reading
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