Belmont
Age-Friendly Action Plan
September 2025
The “Age-Friendly” movement
was first developed by the
World Health Organization (WHO)
through a research project to examine
the experiences of older people living in urban
environments.
Center for Age-Friendly Excellence
Eight Domains of Livability
• Document encompassing a five-year process of
assessing and gathering information, interviewing
community members, and prioritizing potential
projects to implement and establish an AgeFriendly community. • Roadmap for communities to develop initiatives to
make a city a better place to age gracefully, thrive,
and be independent.
Age-Friendly Action Plan
• City-wide survey was disseminated to gather
input about the unmet needs of older adults in
Belmont.
• Belmont developed their own survey, and it was
promoted from March 2024-July 2024
• 229 surveys were collected.
Center for Age-Friendly Excellence
• Belmont initially held five focus groups in 2022
before becoming Age-Friendly certified
September 2022.
• CAFE conducted two additional focus group
meetings in February and March 2025 with
extensive discussion related to the needs of
older adults.
Assessment
• Service providers and residents from the
community participated in these groups.
• In-depth discussions focused on discovering
unmet needs in the older adult community from
their perspective. CAFE prioritized the residents'
ideas for potential projects to address these
needs (Refer to link under Appendix A).
Assessment (Cont.)
• The Action Plan is a living document. It is not static, but will continually evolve in order to ensure
relevance and effectiveness in supporting older
adults.
• Focus group discussions focused on all eight
domains, in addition to a domain CAFE developed:
Emergency Services.
• Interviews with staff were conducted with various
departments February 2025.
Recent Assessments
GOAL: Provide inclusive, safe, healthy outdoor and indoor environments, empower older adults to live independently, and promote aging.
• Educate the public about about continuing improvements that make the parks more accessible and safer.
• Develop a senior ad hoc subcommittee to discuss and research more comfortable seating, “Age Friendly Furniture” for parks and other open space areas.
Domain 1: Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
GOAL: Enforce traffic safety and improve mobility options for older adults.
• Educate older adults on various transportation resources and develop an age-friendly page on the city website with transportation resource subheading.
• Increase education on pedestrian, bike and auto safety.
Domain 2: Transportation
GOAL: To provide resources and options for older adults to age in place, in addition to gathering input from residents on future housing policies.
• Provide, educate, and disseminate information to increase awareness of available affordable housing options and promote a mix of diverse housing.
• Ensure adults have an opportunity to engage in future planning.
Domain 3: Housing
GOAL: Provide opportunities that support social interaction and promote respect for all ages, abilities, and cultures.
• Offer a broader spectrum of activities, programs and social activities for older adults.
• Offer activities and events that support intergenerational interaction.
Domain 4: Social Participation
GOAL: Ensure access to information about resources and
activities for older adults is available at centralized locations, widely distributed, and in multiple languages.
• Provide classes, technology training, and support that improves the digital literacy of older adults.
• Increase accessibility to computers, WiFi, and tech classes. • Increase outreach to the senior community in areas where they gather.
Domain 5: Communication and Information
GOAL: Provide an environment that promotes inclusivity and respect for the community’s older residents.
• Offer intergenerational activities and events so both young and old can learn from each other; include cultural diversity.
• Offer opportunities that encourage cultural arts and events that celebrate diversity.
Domain 6: Respect and Social Inclusion
GOAL: Provide opportunities for older adults to actively contribute to the community decision-making process and remain engaged through meaningful work and volunteerism. • Broaden promotion and availability of opportunities for older residents to volunteer or find employment.
• Provide City information in formats that increase opportunities for older adults to access and participate conveniently.
Domain 7: Civic Participation/Employment
GOAL: Provide an environment with programs and resources that support aging in the community with a positive quality of life. • Increase awareness of available resources in San Mateo County such as the Help at Home resource guide, Medical Equipment Loan Program, and Transportation booklet.
• Provide more workshops for older adults (financial scamming, estate planning, advanced directives, and medical health related workshops).
Domain 8: Community Support & Health Services
GOAL: Educate and ensure older adults are aware and included in emergency preparedness operations.
• Provide emergency preparedness training for older adults throughout the City and establish, promote, and maintain emergency-related programs and activities.
• Encourage residents to attend the annual disaster preparedness day hosted by the San Mateo County Department of Emergency
Preparedness.
Emergency Services
• Potential Age-Friendly projects
• Current Age-Friendly practices
• City of Belmont history
• City Government
• Demographic Profile
• AARP Livability Index
• Acknowledgement and Resource Pages
Appendices
• In September 2022, the City of Belmont officially joined the AARP/WHO network. The process began in April 2022.
• In December 2024, CAFE and Parks and Recreation Staff met to start the process in developing an Age-Friendly Action Plan with the goal to complete the Action Plan by November 2025.
Process
• In July 2025, Parks and Recreation Department reviewed the Action Plan.
• In August 2025, multiple staff from various departments and task force members reviewed the Action Plan.
• In September 2025, the plan is to be presented to the Belmont City Council.
• In October 2025, the Action Plan will be reviewed by the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons).
• In November, expect approval by the AARP.
Process
Questions?
Center for Age-Friendly Excellence