Dementia-Friendly Communities

Planning for aging in place and dementia is more important than ever. The number of people with Alzheimer's disease in the United States is expected to grow to 13.8 million by 2060, with these cognitive diseases expected to most affect Hispanic and Black populations.

The trend of creating dementia-friendly communities is growing. Planners can contribute to policies that can minimize disparities in dementia risk, namely, equitable access to resources and environments that contribute to healthy cognitive function, and they can work to design built environments that are easier for residents with cognitive decline to navigate. Read the PAS Memo "Planning for Dementia-Friendly Communities" to learn about dementia-friendly approaches in planning for transportation, housing, public space, urban fabric, and social services.