Apple Valley brainstorms ways to make city more senior-friendly

Preliminary plans to accommodate the growing population of seniors in Apple Valley involve boosting the walkability of the largely car-dependent suburb.

Additional benches, wider sidewalks and clearer signage focused in Central Village are some of the suggestions to improve accessibility as the suburb's population ages.

Seniors "are custodians and guardians of the next generation," said Gregor Rae, who facilitated an intensive three-day workshop on how to make Apple Valley more senior-friendly. Dakota County's graying population, once just 5 percent, is about to soar closer to 30 percent, projections show. And aging is happening faster in Apple Valley than in the county as a whole.

Local leaders and international experts in senior living and care met this week for an initiative dubbed "Vitalocity!" The goal was to brainstorm a road map to better attract residents of all ages through social and physical infrastructure.

And it could become a national pilot.

"It sounds easy to do, but you look around the world and you find that people aren't doing it," said Rae, CEO of BusinessLab, a Scottish consulting firm.

Central Village, a 60-acre stretch of townhouses, office space, shops and restaurants, is Apple Valley's major hub of activity. Workshop participants said they'd focus on that particular space because it's a gathering place for all ages.

However, the intersection of Cedar Avenue and 150th Street W., within Central Village, is the most walkable part of the city — receiving a score of 75, meaning most errands can be accomplished on foot.

One way to make Central Village more accessible is by making it clearer where to go, said Leslie Moldow, of design firm Perkins Eastman.

For example, the Mall of America parking structure is strategically labeled with colors and states, so customers can remember where they parked. Many senior homes also change the carpet color on different floors, so residents suffering from memory loss can find their way back to their rooms.

That sort of system helps everyone from preschool children to adults with Alzheimer's, Moldow said.

About 34 percent of Apple Valley residents 65 and older remain in the workforce. Almost a quarter of Minnesota baby boomers don't intend to stop working at any age.

On Wednesday, experts met with three live-in residents at the Ecumen Seasons of Apple Valley, a 134-apartment senior housing facility. After each described experiences, one thing became clear: older residents didn't know about many of the city's resources for seniors, so they weren't being used.

Transportation and respite care services, volunteer opportunities and classes at the senior center will need to be publicized more because of this, experts said.

Many communities are just beginning to take notice, but aren't blazing the trail like Apple Valley, said Jess Luce.

"Other cities aren't focused on [changing] demographics," said Luce, supervisor of the Communities for a Lifetime Initiative. "They have this idea that young families are going to return."

The Dakota County program helps provide access to transportation, affordable housing and caregiving services. In Hastings, a Boomer Advisory Council was established to provide feedback on issues affected by the aging population.

Minnesota-based Ecumen, a nonprofit that provides housing, meal and transportation services to seniors, is considering adding another housing facility in Apple Valley.

The Seasons, which has amenities including a salon, gym, library and theater, is currently full with a waiting list. But for residents, the building provides an opportunity to be closer to family, said Steve Ordahl of Ecumen.