Advancing Age-Friendly Communities
Age-friendly is about making our community work better for all ages
Since 2021, Ecolibrium3 has proudly co-led the Duluth Age-Friendly Initiative in partnership with Duluth Aging Support and a diverse group of community partners. This work is part of a growing local movement to ensure Duluth is a place where people of all ages can live with dignity, stay connected, and thrive.
The Duluth Age-Friendly Initiative uses a community-driven framework to identify barriers, elevate opportunities, and advance practical solutions that improve quality of life as we age—benefiting older adults today while strengthening the community for future generations.
Why It Matters
Age-friendly communities are better for us all!
Ecolibrium3’s mission is rooted in community sustainability, equity, and resilience. Age-friendly work is a natural extension of this mission.
An age-friendly community is one where:
- People can safely move through their neighborhoods
- Housing supports independence and aging in place
- Social connection is accessible and inclusive
- Community systems are designed with people—not just efficiency—in mind
By applying an age-friendly lens, we help ensure that policies, programs, and physical environments support wellbeing across the lifespan while addressing disparities that disproportionately impact older adults.
From Planning to Action
Working towards an age-friendly community through awareness, connection, and community
Through the Duluth Age-Friendly Initiative, Ecolibrium3 and partners focus on the Eight Domains of Livability by:
- Raising awareness and building understanding: Sharing practical information that helps reduce ageism and makes homes, businesses, and public spaces more welcoming and easier to use for people of all ages.
- Connecting local efforts: Working with partners across housing, transportation, health, and community services so support is more coordinated and easier to access.
- Centering community voices: Listening to residents, especially older adults, and supporting them as leaders in shaping solutions that reflect real-life experiences and needs.
Our work is prioritized and organized under the Eight Domains of Livability framework. This work helps translate planning into action, creating tangible improvements in how our community supports us all at every stage of life.
Current Work
Check out how we are currently advancing age-friendly communities!
Walking Wellness Uplift
As part of our commitment to holistic wellbeing, Ecolibrium3 offers Walking Wellness Uplift, focused on maintaining mobility, fostering positive social connections, and improving access to healthy foods. Our weekly Walking Wellness class is more than exercise—it is an age-friendly space for building relationships, reducing isolation, and supporting physical and mental wellbeing. The program reflects core age-friendly values: accessibility, connection, and community care.
Healthy Homes: Aging in Place
Safe, comfortable, and energy-efficient homes are essential to aging well. As we get older, we often spend more time at home, making factors like indoor temperature, air quality, lighting, and physical accessibility even more important to health, safety, and independence.
Through Ecolibrium3’s Energy Assessment services, we help households identify opportunities to improve comfort, lower energy costs, and increase home safety. Energy-efficient homes are not only better for the environment—they can reduce utility burdens, support health during extreme weather, and make it easier for residents to remain safely in their homes as they age.
For any household with someone age 65 or older, Ecolibrium3 can also offer:
- Simple aging-in-place home modifications
- Home safety and energy screenings
- Education on comfort, efficiency, and accessibility
- Resources and referrals to trusted local organizations that provide additional services and supports
This integrated approach connects energy efficiency with aging-in-place strategies, helping older adults live safely, affordably, and independently in their homes for as long as possible.
Get Involved
Contact us and follow along with our newsletter for more information!
Action Plan
Learn More About Duluth Age-Friendly
Find Out the Latest
Always stay up to date on our age-friendly programming!
Winter Is Better When We Come Together
Accessible, walkable communities year-round is a key focus of Duluth Age-Friendly to ensure our built environment supports health, mobility, and social connection across the lifespan. That’s why we’re proud to support Be MinneSNOWta NICE, to make Duluth a better place to live by encouraging neighbors to help neighbors with snow removal.
Welcome Georgia, Director of Aging Initiatives
In the newly established role of Director of Aging Initiatives, Georgia Lane brings 20+ years of leadership in the aging services sector. As Director of Aging Initiatives, Georgia will guide and strengthen current Duluth Age-Friendly projects and programs.
Join Walking Wellness Uplift!
We have recently expanded our wellness programming to include Walking Wellness Uplift, an elder-centered, holistic health experience. Every Thursday from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., elders gather at the Lincoln Park Community Center.
Duluth Age-Friendly Survey Winners
Congratulations to our 6 LNPK gift card winners, and a big thank you to everyone who provided their feedback on our 2022 community survey!