AARP has a long-term social impact agenda to ensure that Americans 50 years and older have “independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable for them and society as a whole.” As part of this agenda, AARP established a community-based initiative to help catalyze and support local efforts to create more livable communities and provide affordable housing options that allow residents to age in place. AARP engaged Community Science in the fall of 2005 to conduct a qualitative assessment of the community-based initiative to help the organization learn what worked and did not work and what it takes to establish and nurture successful community-based initiatives for the 50+ population. Community Science reviewed program documents and conducted in-depth telephone interviews with AARP staff (at both the national and state levels) and community partners in each of the five demonstration sites. Based on the evaluation findings, Community Science also developed an assessment tool for use by AARP staff to select additional sites as the program expanded. (2005)
