Mac users: Increase text size by holding command and +. Decrease text size by holding command and -.Thanks to The Giving Voice Initiative, communities seeking to become Age- and Dementia Friendly have another way to be inclusive. The organization provides a free toolkit to help communities establish choirs that actively recruit participants living with memory loss and their care partners. Continue reading
Category Archives: Stories from the Field
Topsfield Fair Becomes First Dementia Friendly Fair in the Country on its 200th Anniversary
On it’s 200th anniversary, the Topsfield Fair, the olderst agricultural fair in the country, will also be the first to become “Dementia Friendly.” Continue reading
City of Boston Launches Age- and Dementia Friendly Business Designation
Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the City of Boston’s Commission on Affairs of the Elderly launched their Age and Dementia-Friendly Business designation, a new pilot program that encourages local businesses to make their spaces and services more inclusive for people of all ages. Today’s announcement was held at Local 338 Bagels and Coffee in West Roxbury, one of nine organizations that received the designation today, which includes certificates and decals to mark their business as Age and Dementia-Friendly. Continue reading
Berkshire Eagle Podcast Discusses Age-Friendly Berkshires Action Plan
A new edition of the Berkshire Eagle Podcast highlights the ongoing work of Age Friendly Berkshires after the recent release of their action plan following three years of assessment and planning.
Age-Friendly Berkshires Celebrates Action Plan Launch
Nearly 100 volunteers, supporters and collaborators attended an event at Berkshire Hills Country Club to celebrate the launch of an action plan for Age-Friendly Berkshires.
After several years of work, it was clear that the regional effort of 32 communities and dozens of organizations was worth the wait. Continue reading
Salem for All Ages Releases ‘Year One’ Report
The City of Salem was among the first communities in the state to both join the AARP/WHO Network of Age-Friendly Communities and also come out with an action plan. The “Salem for All Ages” task force is once again showing leadership with a “Year One” report that highlights progress on the items laid out in the city’s Age-Friendly action plan. Continue reading
MetroWest Health Foundation Offering Grants to Age- and Dementia Friendly Communities
Following up on a round of grants in Fall 2017, the Metrowest Health Foundation is once again focusing on supporting Age- and Dementia Friendly Communities in a newly released Spring 2018 Grant RFP.
The last round of grants included an award to the Framingham Board of Health to co-lead an Age- and Dementia Friendly effort in that city that will bring community partners together.
Metrowest Health Foundation is a key partner for the advancement and promotion of healthy aging best practices and is represented on the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative Executive Committee and Advisory Council.
For more information, see the Metrowest Spring 2018 RFP.
Cape Cod’s Age-Friendly Communities Featured on NPR
In December 2017 WCAI, the Cape and Islands NPR station, debuted a new series about aging http://www.bit.ly/2AmngU0.
On December 13, 2017 The Point broadcast with host Mindy Todd highlighted three Cape and Islands age-friendly initiatives. Guests on the program were Kathi Bailey, Director of Senior Services at the Town Of Yarmouth; Vaira Harik, Senior project manager at Barnstable County Human services; and Paddy Moore, chair of Healthy Aging Martha’s Vineyard.
WCVB’s ‘Chronicle’ Show Reports on Trends in Embracing Aging
In a series of reports, Boston’s WCVB-Channel 5 show “Chronicle” focused on ideas, companies and policies that are helping older adults live healthier and remain independent in their communities. Continue reading
Town of Lenox on the Move
The following is posted with permission from WalkBoston and written by Gwen Miller who is the Land Use Director and Town Planner for Lenox, MA. This article was featured in WalkBoston’s October 2017 newsletter.
Lenox, in the Berkshires, has just over 5,000 residents. It is largely rural with a small downtown, parks, public art, great restaurants, Tanglewood, and The Mount/Edith Wharton’s Home. In Lenox, you get the small-town vibe but big-city culture. Continue reading