MAYOR WALSH, ELDERLY COMMISSION LAUNCH AGE-FRIENDLY ACTION PLAN
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Plan releases 75 action items to improve Boston for older residents
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BOSTON - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Boston's Elderly Commission today launched the City's first-ever Age-Friendly Boston Action Plan, the City's blueprint to make Boston the best city and place to live for older adults within three years. The 75 action items in the plan were developed through 25 listening sessions, featuring engagement from over 4,000 older residents throughout Boston. Developed in partnership with AARP, the Tufts Health Plan Foundation and UMass Boston, the plan was released today at the Thelma Burns Building in ABCD Roxbury.
"Older Bostonians are the fastest growing segment of Boston's population, and we're focused on making Boston as friendly and inclusive as possible to residents aging in our City," said Mayor Walsh. "This action plan represents Boston's commitment to working with the community, identifying concerns, and providing real, impactful solutions."
In 2014, Mayor Walsh signed onto the World Health Organization's (WHO) network of Age-Friendly Cities, through their United States partner AARP, and launched the Age-Friendly Boston Initiative. The first phase of the initiative focused on gathering input from older adults about the strengths and weaknesses of growing older in Boston, and this new Action Plan is the result the two year community engagement, data analysis and collaboration process.
Under Mayor Walsh's leadership, the Elderly Commission formed a partnership with UMass Boston Gerontology Institute, supported by a grant from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation, to conduct research based on the guidelines set forth by the WHO. Grounded in community feedback, the plan identifies recommendations and action items the City will take to enhance the quality of life for Boston's older adult residents.
The Age-Friendly Boston Action Plan is organized around eight key life domains, or main concerns, and today's release marks the start of the plan's implementation.
Action Item Highlights Include:
"We are very proud to have been part of a process that will help Boston adapt to an aging population, a dramatic demographic shift that will affect every city in America in the near future," said Jan Mutchler, Director of the Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging at UMass Boston. "The city's action plan responds to the needs of the community and will help make Boston a leader in the age-friendly movement."
"This action plan honors the voice of community and the rich diversity of Boston's neighborhoods," said Nora Moreno Cargie, president of Tufts Health Plan Foundation and vice president for corporate citizenship at Tufts Health Plan. "Throughout its process, the City of Boston has been an active listener and envisions communities that are relevant to our changing demographics. Boston will be more accessible, healthier, and age-friendly as the City moves toward implementation of the Plan."
Mike Festa, AARP Massachusetts Director, said, "There is a pressing need to create livable communities for people of all ages. In less than 15 years, one out of every five people in the country will be 65 or older, a demographic shift that will be felt in every community. The City of Boston's Age-Friendly Action Plan can provide a model to inspire even more creativity and sharing of best practices to spur innovation in making all communities great places for people of all ages."
The complete Age-Friendly Boston Action Plan and Fact Sheet is available at: www.boston.gov/age-friendly.
About Age-Friendly Cities
The guiding principle of an Age-Friendly society focuses on designing livable communities that promote good health, strong civic participation and clear communication. That means safe, walkable streets; offering better housing and transportation options; improving access to key services and providing opportunities to be socially engaged. It means sustaining economic growth and enabling happier, healthier residents.
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