The 5th Annual AARP Livable Communities Conference, held November 14-16, 2017, in Dallas, was an opportunity for local leaders and community advocates from across the U.S. to come together to share ideas, best practices and solutions for making towns, cities and communities more livable for people of all ages. What is a livable community? Picture healthy,...
AustinUP is proud to welcome Chip Sampson to our Board of Directors. Chip has more than 18 years of experience in the Professional Services and Project Staff Placement industry in Austin and throughout Texas. With a background in both public sector and private industry, he has developed long-term business relationships with a large number of...
Joe Coughlin, director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AgeLab, has written a book called The Longevity Economy: Unlocking the World’s Fastest-Growing, Most Misunderstood Market. In it he describes how businesses can prepare for an aging world. As he explains, “The main purpose of this book is to help [leaders in] big businesses understand this brave, old world and succeed in it; to enable them to harness the heightened expectations of baby boomers craving a better old age; and to avoid being left in the dust of creative destruction as others do the same.”
We are happy to report that Whitney Power has joined the AustinUP Board of Directors, effective August 2017. Whitney works with Seton Innovation and Virtual Care, where she helps connect Austinites to health care they need by deploying new technology solutions and programs. Whitney has managed senior-focused health technology and remote care coordination programs, organized technology trade shows, and spoke...
It was standing room only at the May 4 ATX Aging & Innovation Summit, presented by AustinUP and Dell Medical School at the University of Texas. If you were there, you heard Dr. Chris Callahan, Director of the Indiana University Center for Aging Research, suggest that given the diversity of older adults, we need a diversity of new technologies and innovations to support independence; Jeffrey Makowka, Director of Market Innovation for AARP, tell us that $7.6 trillion in annual economic activity is generated by people over the age of 50; and Dr. José Colucci, Director of Research and Development at the Design Institute for Health, point out that younger adults try to identify with their age group as much as possible, while older adults do not…unless that comparison reinforces a positive self image. This, of course, is excellent insight if you are working and innovating in the aging/tech space!
AustinUP is honored and excited to announce that Marilyn Poole, an attorney with The Fowler Law Firm, has joined our Board of Directors. As her online bio states, Marilyn is a "...
The Milken Institute released its “Best Cities for Successful Aging” report this week, with major nods to Austin and AustinUP. Take a look at page 18 of the report to see Austin listed #6 in the Top 20 Large Metros. Then scroll down to page 47 to see AustinUP included in a list of “Programs with Purpose.” We are proud to be included in this report and very proud of our work to make Austin one of the best cities for successful aging. Full press release below.
LOS ANGELES, 3.14.17—This week, the Milken Institute released the third edition of its “Best Cities for Successful Aging” report and index, a collaboration between the Institute’s Center for the Future of Aging and its Research Department. The report evaluates 381 U.S. metropolitan areas to determine how well they serve the needs of the nation’s growing population of mature adults, enabling them to age productively, securely, and in optimal health.
John Egan, writing for Culturemap.com (Austin), reports on new demographic data showing the continued uptick in older adults moving to Austin. His article, Austin's Population Just Keeps Getting Older Shows New Data, also mentions our Age-friendly Austin Plan, which was adopted by City Council in November 2016. [su_divider top="no" divider_color="#cfcfcf" link_color="#cfcfcf" size="1" margin="20"] Austin's Population Just Keeps Getting...
AustinUP is truly fortunate to have such an outstanding Board of Directors. Today, we are happy to announce some new roles and new faces.
Dr. Mark Carlson (Geriatrician and Founder/Director of Be Well MD) now serves as Chair. Cyndi Cummings (owner, Cummings Realty Associates and community advocate for older adults) is our new Vice Chair. Margo Weisz (Partner, City Lights Group and Project Director of the 2012-13 Mayor’s Task Force on Aging) is our Secretary/Treasurer. Angela Atwood, our former Chair, continues to serve on the Board.
We also welcome new Board members Charles Curry and Carl Angel.
The City of Austin Commission on Seniors serves as an advisory board to the City Council concerning the quality of life for senior citizens in the Austin area. This volunteer commission advises the Council on issues related to older adults in the Austin area; evaluates and recommends programs, policies, and practices that create a positive impact and reduce...