Mac users: Increase text size by holding command and +. Decrease text size by holding command and -.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.
Category Archives: Stories from the Field
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
Mass Municipal Association: Ashland tax relief fund to help seniors, disabled via donations
Communities across the state are finding creative ways of supporting older adults and all residents to remain healthy and independent. The following article is republished with permission from the October 2017 issue of The Beacon, a publication of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, a nonprofit, nonpartisan association that provides advocacy, training, publications, research and other services to Massachusetts cities and towns.
Ashland has created a tax relief fund and is seeking donations from residents to provide assistance to elderly and disabled residents on fixed incomes who face rising property tax bills.
Continue reading
Webinar Available on Supporting Age-Friendly Communities
Grantmakers in Aging recently kicked-off a webinar series to to encourage greater philanthropic engagement in age-friendly efforts across the country.
Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative joined New Hampshire’s Endowment for Health to present from the perspective of a backbone organization coordinating Age-Friendly efforts and also a funder that is dedicated to backing and advancing the movement. Continue reading
NCOA Running Falls Prevention Photo and Story Contest
In preparation for Falls Prevention Awareness Day in September the National Council on Aging (NCOA) is sponsoring a “photo and story” contest to illustrate and convey the great work being done nationwide to prevent falls.
Winners will receive prizes issued to the individual/organization submitting the entry and will be featured in NCOA materials, including information provided to the media and on the organizations website. Prizes are: 1st prize: $300; 2nd prize: $250; 3rd prize: $200. Photo entries must be submitted by August 25 at 11:59pm ET.
Details are available in NCOA’s Photo Contest Flyer.