Healthy Aging Framework

Parks and recreation is essential to creating inclusive, climate-resilient and thriving communities, where everyone can experience belonging, well-being and joy. Parks and recreation is especially vital to community health and well-being. Local park and recreation agencies serve as Community Wellness Hubs — trusted gathering places that connect every member of the community to essential programs, services and spaces that advance health equity, improve health outcomes and enhance quality of life. In this role, park and recreation agencies provide vital programs and services that address the diverse health and wellness needs of older adults where they live, learn, work, play and age.

To advance this vision, NRPA has developed a Healthy Aging Framework, which is grounded in data collected from park and recreation professionals, experts in the aging field and older adults through surveys, focus groups and interviews. The framework guides park and recreation professionals through seven key pathways to equitably advancing healthy aging and strengthening social and intergenerational connection.

One of the largest groups in nearly every community is adults older than 55, who are often termed “older adults.” The older adult population increases every year. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that those born between 1946 and 1964 account for nearly 17 percent of the U.S. population and total 55.8 million people. In the past decade alone, the older adult population in the United States has experienced its fastest growth in more than 100 years. Older adult populations will continue to increase and diversify as 24 percent of adults born between 1946 and 1980 identify as Black or African American, 30 percent as Hispanic or Latino, and 12 percent as Asian or Pacific Islander.

Aging increases the risk of chronic diseases like dementia, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and arthritis, and older adults experience additional challenges that can increase the risk of social isolation and loneliness. According to a 2021 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) report, nearly one-fourth of adults ages 65 and older are socially isolated, a risk further exacerbated by the [coronavirus] COVID-19 pandemic  [1] . Social isolation among older adults became an emergency in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns interrupted norms and required physical distancing from friends, family, neighbors and colleagues. A report from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, titled  Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation , highlighted that lack of social relationships have significant physical implications including a 29 percent increased risk of heart disease, a 32 percent increased risk of stroke, a 50 percent increased risk of dementia in older adults and a 60 percent increased risk of premature death. For many older adults, this is their everyday reality.  

While intergenerational relationships and connectedness are flourishing in some communities, there remain many communities and older adults who experience barriers to accessing these vital opportunities. Historically marginalized populations, including people of color, the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities and immigrants, are at an especially high risk for social isolation and loneliness. Older members of the LGBTQIA+ community are more vulnerable to social isolation, as they are more likely to live alone and have smaller social networks than their heterosexual peers  [2] . Similarly, due to historic disinvestment in the built environment, smaller social networks, and language and cultural barriers, people who immigrated to the United States later in life are at a higher risk for social isolation than their non-immigrant counterparts or those who immigrated as children  [3] . Non-Hispanic white people in the United States are more likely to not have children and live alone than their racial and ethnic minority peers. However, due to socioeconomic conditions and reduced access to resources, racial and ethnic minorities are more reliant on their friends and family for support, which results in a more significant mental, emotional and physical impact when they lose contact with their social network  [4]. 

As the United States population ages and diversifies, it is important that older adults remain socially connected, and intergenerational relationships are a crucial part of ensuring that happens. Dr. Linda Freed, dean of Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health, reports that ageism and age segregation in housing, volunteering and employment have resulted in the United States being the most age-segregated society and has resulted in a loss of intergenerational contact  [5] . Research shows that  intergenerational programs have multiple benefits for everyone involved , including an increased feeling of belonging among both younger and older participants and an improved quality of life, particularly for those with dementia  [6] . Intergenerational models can foster meaningful relationships that have bidirectional benefits, with older adults benefitting from meaningful social connections as well as younger generations benefitting from the experiences of older adults and forming more positive attitudes toward older adults  [7]. 

While the 2023 Surgeon General’s report on loneliness and isolation highlighted the urgency of addressing this, it also offered solutions and evidence-based strategies. Among those strategies were specific calls to increase investment in social and community infrastructure like park and recreation centers, community-based programming, staff training to support relationship building and belonging, public awareness and education efforts, and more. Park and recreation agencies have the power to take action in many of these areas.

Park and recreation agencies are one of the leading providers of older adult programming nationwide, and they manage essential spaces and community infrastructure like parks, trails and recreation centers where all people, including older adults, can gather, connect and build community. In fact, NRPA's  Engagement with Parks Report  found that 64 percent of U.S. residents over the age of 54 have walkable access to at least one park and/or recreation facility.

NRPA’s  2024 Supporting Older Adults Through Parks and Recreation  report found:

• 92% of park and recreation agencies offer older adult-related resources and programs
• 95% of agencies say that promoting social connection and addressing social isolation are top benefits of their older adult programming
• 30% of agencies offer intergenerational programming, such as arts and crafts, reading programs, and mentoring opportunities
• 61% of agencies indicate that participation in their older adult programming is reflective of the community’s racial and ethnic profile

Leading public health officials agree that parks and recreation has a vital role to play in supporting the health and well-being of all generations and addressing the social isolation and loneliness epidemic.

While park and recreation agencies are one of the leading providers of older adult programming, more work is necessary to address barriers to older adult programming and advance health equity and well-being. Some common barriers to older adult programming in parks and recreation include:

1.      Stigma and Ageism: Societal prejudice against older adults persists along with the stigma associated with commonly used language to describe older adults and older adult programs and services like “elderly” and “senior center.” This contributes to underinvestment in older adult initiatives and underutilization from the community.

2.      Staff Capacity and Training: Limited training and staff capacity often limits the programming and services agencies can offer that meet the demands, interests and needs of older adults.

3.      Available Space: There is a lack of space to conduct programming in many existing park and recreation facilities. Additionally, scheduling of available space often skews toward youth sports, childcare and trying to meet the needs of younger populations. Available space may not always be accessible to older/aging adults.

4.      Lack of Funding and High Cost: Older adult programming is often underfunded within park and recreation agencies, leading to participation costs for older adults. The cost of participating in programs can create barriers for low-income or fixed-income participants.

5.      Transportation: Lack of adequate and reliable transportation, including public transportation, impacts older adults’ ability to access and participate in programming.

To better serve this growing population, park and recreation agencies must provide spaces, facilities, programming and other critical resources that support the lifestyles, needs and interests of this steadily increasing group. This includes, but is not limited to, providing accessible, safe and inclusive environments; building equitable and impactful partnerships; advancing practices, policies and norms that center health equity; and offering community-driven and culturally responsive programming.

The goal of this framework is to help park and recreation agencies leverage their strengths, relationships and resources to advance systems change approaches that support healthy aging. The framework is grounded in a health equity lens and focuses on including all generations and people to build social and intergenerational connectedness through parks and recreation. It is intended to meet park and recreation agencies where they are and provide suggestions, guidance and examples from the field that highlight effective and equitable healthy aging approaches.  

NRPA has identified seven guiding pathways that park and recreation agencies can focus on to ensure both health equity and intergenerational connectedness are embedded in efforts to support healthy aging.

To advance healthy aging, park and recreation professionals will need to confront the inequities, ageism and stigma that influence the health and well-being of older adults and the investment in older adult resources and programming within park and recreation systems. Health equity must be at the center of efforts to support older adults to ensure all community members can access and experience the benefits of parks and recreation. Park and recreation agencies have an opportunity to center and apply a health equity lens to their older adult programming through a variety of strategies:

• Establishing an equity commitment statement and identifying equity champions within park and recreation systems at leadership, staff and community levels
• Conducting equity assessments of older adult programming, operations, spaces, communications, decision-making structures and practices to identify gaps and opportunities for action
• Developing and advancing equity action plans that identify clear objectives, dedicate resources, maintain accountability and track progress

NRPA has developed a  Health Equity Framework  that walks through — in detail — how to implement assessments and action plans:

• Ensuring staff at all levels and community members are represented in decision making related to the planning and implementation of programs, services and spaces
• Implementing equitable fee structures through sliding scales, payment plans, reduced fees for volunteers, stipends for transportation and other methods
• Ensuring equitable access to facilities and spaces by providing transportation, verifying ADA accessibility, balancing hours of availability for older adult programs with competing programming and other strategies
• Ensuring that agency staff and community partners are representative of the community being served and providing training to all staff on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and how these concepts impact health outcomes of older adults
• Ensuring that materials (e.g., participant workbooks and marketing promotions) and programming are representative of diverse populations present in your community, are offered in the languages spoken in your community and are  accessible to older adults  (i.e., terminology, font size and design)
• Ensuring older adults whose identities intersect with other non-dominant groups (e.g., race, class, gender, sexuality and religion) have the resources and space needed to participate in programming and feel welcome to do so

Having input from older adults about what kinds of programs they are interested in strengthens the relevancy of programs offered and builds trust between agency and participant. Ensure that input directly from the community, especially from older adults from historically under resourced communities, is informing new programs. Maintain open lines of communication for feedback to create modification of existing programs. A variety of other strategies can be used to build trust with older adults and gather input from them:

• Use surveys or community needs assessments to ask residents about what kinds of programs, facilities and amenities they want from a park and recreation agency.
• Conduct focus groups and interviews with older adults to provide input on what programming they want to see, when they want it, how often they want it, etc.
• Perform relationship building and outreach efforts that focus on hard-to-reach community members, including historically under-resourced communities and communities with a history of distrust with local government, as well as people who may be new to the community or experiencing a major life change.
• Engage coalitions, organizations or partners who represent and are already supporting older adult efforts to provide research, expertise and input.
• If possible, have an “Open Door Policy” that invites older adults to informally share their thoughts on current programs and services as well as new directions to explore.
• Ensure that different sources of data are invited and integrated into programming and services planning and evaluation.
• Compensate community members and partners for their time, input and experiences.

Working alongside community partners to deliver programs and services is essential to advancing healthy aging programs, services and outcomes, and helping community members overcome barriers to programming and services. Park and recreation agencies interact with a wide variety of partners, including area agencies on aging (AAAs), public health departments, healthcare providers, libraries, faith-based partners, cultural and community-based organizations, state assistive technology programs, local businesses and other private sector partners.

Relationships with partners will differ but should be mutually beneficial and equitable. Partnerships are a two-way street that involves establishing shared values, identifying how the partners will work toward shared goals, educating one another on the resources that they offer to older adults and leveraging assets to complement one another. Partnership building can be challenging and time consuming, but these relationships are often very rewarding. Partnerships are most successful when they account for power dynamics, decision-making processes, shared work, compensation and acknowledgement of contributions. Some models may include:

• Assessing existing partnerships to identify gaps in terms of representation, power and influence over spaces, programming and services
• Programming flourishes through partnerships; parks and recreation agencies can often provide space, equipment or marketing support, while partner organizations can bring their expertise, resources and personnel.
• Park and recreation agencies can work as a coordinator of community services that promote and refer older adults to other service providers.
• Partners can work together within a coalition to advance public awareness efforts, advocacy campaigns and citywide fundraising efforts, conduct research and engage stakeholders.
• Staff can encourage older adult participants to explore new opportunities and relationships at other locations, and then share their experiences with their peers.

Park and recreation facilities like parks, trails, play spaces, community and recreation centers, and other public spaces are crucial elements of the built environment and provide the physical space for social and intergenerational connection to happen. This vital “social infrastructure” can be leveraged to facilitate organic and structured opportunities that promote well-being. This includes maximizing spaces to support everyday interactions like adding benches, picnic tables, art features, shade structures, lawn games, outdoor fitness equipment, walking paths, etc., or activating spaces through community programming and events like exercise classes, farmers markets and cultural celebrations. Within these settings, additional spaces — such as multipurpose rooms, amphitheaters, lobbies, game rooms, reading and craft areas, kitchens, and other assets — can help integrate older adult and intergenerational programs and services across the community. Additionally, co-locating spaces, like connecting schools, community centers, parks, health clinics, libraries, grocery stores and transit centers, can help ensure community members have safe and walkable access to these destinations. It also creates opportunities to support physical activity, connection to nature and the outdoors, improve mental health, and build social and intergenerational connections.

Co-locating services in these spaces is another opportunity to serve as a manager, leverage community resources and assets, and support social and intergenerational connection to improve health. Having programming near recreation and community centers, local schools, parks and green space, childcare centers or any other community assets helps to integrate older adult programs and services with the broader community. Additionally, co-location helps cultivate opportunities for social/intergenerational connections and accommodating older adults’ caregiving responsibilities.

When designing and programming spaces, considering how these spaces can be more inviting to foster social and intergenerational connection is key. Some strategies may include:

• Providing comfortable and inclusive seating areas in public spaces
• Offering beverages and snacks or providing books, games and crafts to help facilitate conversation
• Ensuring spaces are culturally responsive and use culturally relevant art and/or spoken languages
• Dedicating space and establishing norms for joint use vs. separating community members into “teen centers” and “older adult centers”
• Offering programming at the same time for youth, families and older adults, as well as establishing intergenerational programming
• Consider incorporating universal design in the built environment. By developing environments that can be used by everyone, older adults can engage in relationships and activities in meaningful ways. Universal design accounts for individuals who use assistive technology, including physical ramps and cognitive supports.

Placing older adults in a leadership role and co-developing with park and recreation staff encourage successful older adult and intergenerational programming. This includes mentoring and creating opportunities for older adults to participate in the lives of younger people to introduce reciprocity. To have reciprocity means to ensure the program or activity provides benefits to both the older and younger participants. Strategies to ensure empowerment and reciprocity include:

• Empowerment between friends: Encouraging a coalition of active older adults to collaborate in getting their friends to participate in programming and bringing them to their community center and park and recreation agency.
• Empowerment and reciprocity through programming: Offering classes that cater to people new in the community or to a specific demographic with currently involved older adults sharing their stories on how they became engaged with the community center. 
• Volunteerism: Empowering experienced participants volunteer to support or lead programming. This could include volunteering at summer camps, supporting lunchtime services, trips and site-based programs.

With the power to both uplift and marginalize, the language, images and communication methods we use matter. Communication is a powerful force that can shape individual experiences and connections within communities, influence societal norms and narratives, and shape our mindsets and beliefs. To best support older adults and increase access to older adult programming and opportunities for social and intergenerational connection, park and recreation professionals can focus on these key strategies:

• Language: Be intentional about the language you use to achieve your intended outcomes. If you are focused on creating intergenerational connections, advertising programming that reflects all ages and uses language that invites everybody in is key. Move away from language like “senior, elderly or active adult.” If there is specific older adult programming, messaging can include language that is broader like “adult programs” to encourage all adults to join. This language can help break down the misconception that programming is only for a subset of older adults. Another example is stepping away from naming or referring to centers as “senior centers” and instead renaming the center to be inclusive of all populations like “community center” or “wellness center.”
• Communication preferences: “Word of mouth” is one of the preferred modes of communication for older adults to build awareness on the variety of programming offered by park and recreation agencies. Consider how your participants, especially participants who are representative of historically underserved communities, can be ambassadors for your older adult and intergenerational initiatives. Ensure they have opportunities to tell their stories and share their experiences.
• Representation: In flyers, social media and other promotional materials for older adult and intergenerational programming, it is important to be conscious of having pictures of various ages, races, ethnicities, abilities, genders, etc., that represent the diversity of older adults and program participants to foster a sense of belonging.
• Consider internal messaging within your agency: Advancing healthy aging requires building the support of staff and leaders. Using language that is destigmatizing and inclusive in internal communications, sharing stories of older adult impacts, and providing training and professional development on ageism and stigma, DEI, community engagement, reciprocity and empowerment, and relationship building can help shift the mindsets and firmly held beliefs of staff and leaders and generate the support needed for older adult and intergenerational initiatives.

Offering a variety of programs and activities is essential for successful older adult programming and supporting healthy aging. Catering to a wide variety of interests and abilities and meeting everybody where they are at is one of the best ways to stay successful. This includes the need to have community input to inform programming and having programming centered around specific demographics as well as having programming open to all ages. Key considerations to ensure diversity of programs and engagement within programs include:

• Timing: Offer programming that extends into later hours as well a variety of options in timing to expand opportunities for all adults to engage. For intergenerational opportunities, consider summertime and weekend programming, as it allows easier access for youth and adults to participate in programming together.
• Facility Design: Ensure facilities are designed to encourage use across all ages and physical and intellectual abilities. This includes physical accessibility by paying attention to differing  fitness/mobility levels and ADA compliance and considering people living with disabilities, mental health conditions and chronic diseases.
• Shared Use: Design spaces for shared use to help ensure that a wide variety of programming can be offered. For example, use of park and recreation areas and facilities can extend beyond traditional purposes to become convening spaces for special events like bridal showers, celebrations of life, baby showers, etc.
• Flexibility, Low Cost and Participant Support: Provide low-cost participation or other fee-reduction methods to reduce barriers to programming. Create additional participant supports as needed, including transportation, equipment, meals/snacks, water, appropriate attire, etc. Consider offering programming in more central locations where it may be more convenient for rural communities to gather.
• Delivery Methods: Offer programming in person via hybrid models or virtually to help to reduce barriers to accessing programming and services.

 NRPA’s seven dimensions of well-being  are adapted from several evidence-based frameworks and aligned with the strengths, assets and opportunities that exist within parks and recreation to advance equity, environmental resilience, and health and well-being. The seven interdependent and interconnected dimensions of well-being include: cultural, economic, environmental, intellectual, mental, physical and social. At the center of these seven dimensions is equity, reflecting a deep commitment to addressing and rectifying legacies of inequity and injustice in our communities — especially those created and/or perpetuated through park and recreation systems — to ensure the benefits of parks and recreation are shared by everyone.

Park and recreation agencies are uniquely positioned to create intergenerational spaces and programs that support healthy aging and maximize community benefits across all seven dimensions. They also can use the seven dimensions of well-being as a guide to plan for community-driven older adult and intergenerational programming, spaces and services that holistically advance health and well-being.

Similar to NRPA’s Community Wellness Hub model and the seven dimensions of well-being,  community care hubs  are an evolving model designed to align health and social care to address the  social determinants of health  and meet the needs of a whole person.

Park and recreation agency programming can support older adults and improve outcomes within each of the seven dimensions. The case studies below include several examples of strategies and innovations used across the seven dimensions of well-being to advance health equity and move the needle on social connectedness. Explore the case studies for inspiration and new ideas to support intergenerational connections through parks and recreation.

In the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 Report,  Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation , Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A., shares, “By taking small steps every day to strengthen our relationships and by supporting community efforts to rebuild social connection, we can rise to meet this moment together. We can build lives and communities that are healthier and happier.”

In achieving health equity and intergenerational connectedness, everyone benefits. While this framework was developed to primarily support our aging population, the pathways are intended to benefit anyone of any age recognizing the vital role parks and recreation plays in helping all individuals and communities build meaningful connections and engage in activities that promote their well-being. We hope that this framework will provide you with tools and examples to promote healthy aging in your community, while strengthening the whole community.

NRPA will continue to edit this resource as we learn more about the work park and recreation agencies are doing in the healthy aging space. Regardless of where you are on your journey, we hope this tool is valuable in meeting you where you are.

About NRPA The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is the leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. With more than 60,000 members, NRPA advances this mission by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals and advocates — the catalysts for positive change in service of equity, climate-readiness, and overall health and well-being. Authors and Contributors

• Austin Barrett, Senior Evaluation Manager, National Recreation and Park Association
• Allison Colman, Senior Director of Programs, National Recreation and Park Association
• Charissa Hipp, Marketing and Engagement Manager, National Recreation and Park Association
• Natalia Ospina, Senior Program Manager, National Recreation and Park Association
• Dianne Palladino, Director of Research and Evaluation, National Recreation and Park Association
• Vitisia Paynich, Director of Print and Online Content, National Recreation and Park Association
• Colleen Pittard, Partnership Manager, National Recreation and Park Association
• Meagan Yee, Manager of Online Content, National Recreation and Park Association

Advisory Board

• Katie Clark, MPH, Social Connection Lead, Center for Innovation and Partnership, Administration for Community Living
• Paige Denison, Director of Health, Wellness & Project Enhance – Sound Generations
• Elizabeth “Lisa” Erck, MS, Public Health Consultant, Center for Advancing Healthy Communities, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
• Elizabeth Equi, Director, Town of Arlington Senior Center (Tennessee)
• Jill Juris, Assistant Professor, Appalachian State University
• Heather Murphy, Public Health Consultant, Center for Advancing Healthy Communities, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors 
• Sally Pennington, Parks and Recreation Director, Eudora Parks and Recreation (Kansas)
• Fatima Perkins, MSLIS, MNO, Director, Community Outreach & Advocacy, Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging

Focus Group Participants

• Heather Borchardt, Recreation Manager, Liberty Parks and Recreation
• Katie Clark, MPH, Social Connection Lead, Center for Innovation and Partnership, Administration for Community Living
• Brenda Davis, Manager, Loudon County Senior Center at Cascades, Parks, Recreation and Community Services
• Sonia Graham, Supervisor, Newport 60+ Activity Center
• Jennifer Heinz, National Accounts Manager, Human Kinetics Inc.
• Nancy Henkin, Senior Fellow, Generations United
• Jennifer Jackson, Adult Program Coordinator, City of Whitewater (Wisconsin)
• Jill Juris, Assistant Professor, Appalachian State University
• Meaghan McMahon, Founder and Director, MBM Consulting
• Heather Murphy, Public Health Consultant, Center for Advancing Healthy Communities, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
• Fatima Perkins, Director Community Outreach and Advocacy, Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging
• Jillian Racoosin, Executive Director, Foundation for Social Connection
• Michelle Stout, Recreation Manager, Apex (Colorado) Park and Recreation District
• Alison Vaux-Bjerke, MPH, MCHES, Physical Activity Advisor, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

NRPA would like to thank  RRF Foundation for Aging  for its generous support of this project.