Oral

The physical environment can positively contribute to a community's health through universal design, sidewalks, street networks, and land use patterns. A healthy community offers protections from potential dangers and promotes opportunities for community engagement and physical activity. This session includes five presentations on policies, practice and research related to environment health and aging, engaging older adults as effects health advocates for increased access, safe mobility, physical activity and access to goods and services, building toward a social norm of sidewalk snow clearance, a critical element of a healthy aging environment, involving multiple sectors to improve the urban environment for older adults, and age variations in environmental barriers and motivators for walking.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe promising best community practices to encourage healthy communities for active aging. 2. Describe an innovative model for meeting the challenges of population aging.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)