Lifelong Homes & Communities
Check out our new Lifelong Homes & Communities Initiative report!
Want to partner or stay updated? Let us know.
Homes are the heart of our communities and the hubs of our lives.
Imagine homes that help us live our best lives, no matter our age or ability. This is the vision of IBE’s Lifelong Homes and Lifelong Communities certifications.
In collaboration with partners across Colorado, we have created and are now piloting certification programs for Lifelong Homes and Communities to promote the development of safe, healthy, accessible homes for all.
IBE is working toward a statewide standard that:
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- Helps overcome market and industry barriers to lifelong homes and communities;
- Guides developers and builders in creating lifelong homes and communities;
- Educates homeowners and homebuyers about lifelong homes features; and
- Provides municipalities with tools to accommodate all residents.
Why Lifelong Homes?
The older adult population is growing rapidly. People are living longer, and the largest generation the world has ever seen is now into retirement age. Over 25% of adults in the U.S.
live with some type of disability, such as a visual, mobility, cognitive, learning, hearing, mental and/or social disability. To keep pace with demand, we need more housing options equipped to meet the changing needs that come with aging and disability, and that add ease to daily living for all types of people.
What Are Lifelong Homes & Communities?
Based on the latest research on the environmental and social determinants of health, IBE has designed five categories that re-define what makes homes safe, healthy, and accessible for all. Lifelong Homes & Communities are thoughtfully designed with these factors in mind to help us live our best lives, no matter what changes arise.
Lifelong Homes certification recognizes individual homes that address important aspects across the five categories. Lifelong Communities certification recognizes communities that support active, healthy, sustainable living for all who live there; certified communities also encourage and facilitate Lifelong Homes certifications by individual homebuyers. Read more about the criteria.
Get Involved or Stay Updated
We are working with partners to understand the needs and perspectives of diverse stakeholders, and to gather input and feedback on our criteria and how to move forward in creating the standard. We are currently seeking pilot projects. If you’re interested in joining our pilot program, please let us know.
Want to stay updated? Want to help us pilot the program or otherwise partner?
Thanks to Our Supporters
The Lifelong Homes & Communities initiative is possible thanks to the generous support of Actual Communities Inc.; the City of Centennial; Colorado State University’s Office of the Vice-President for Research; Connell Resources; Thrive Home Builders; First Tier Bank; and the Rose Community Foundation. We also thank our collaborators: Lifelong Colorado; Columbine Health Systems Center for Healthy Aging; the Larimer County Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities (PAFC); the Nancy Richardson Design Center; the City of Centennial; the Rose Community Foundation; Waters’ Edge, LLC; Sonders, LLC; The Lighting Center; Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver; Housing Catalyst; Polestar Village; Connell Resources; KGA Studio Architects PC; and the members of our Action Advisory Team.
