Becoming Age-Friendly Joining the World Health Organization and AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization established the Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities in 2006 to prepare for: • Population Aging • Urbanization AARP became Age-friendly affiliate in US in 2010.
Municipal Services
Top 4 on Older Adult Wish List • Age in place – preferably in their home, otherwise in their community. • Affordable and accessible housing • Variety of public transportation options – especially when they can no longer • Opportunities to work, volunteer and socialize
Everybody Wants a Livable Community PEOPLE WANT LIVABLE COMMUNITIES LONGEVITY ECONOMY
JOINING the AGE FRIENDLY NETWORK TOGETHER
AARP MA Network Communities MA Age-Friendly Network (49) Agawam, Berkshire county (32 cities/towns ), Boston, Dartmouth, Lawrence, Martha’s Vineyard (6 towns), New Bedford, Newton, Peabody, Salem, Stoughton, Wakefield, West Springfield More in process … (another 13+ early 2018) A 13-city greater Boston sub-region, Arlington, Belmont, Cape Ann, Needham, Quincy…??
AARP Age Friendly Process Step 1: Application & Acceptance into Step 2: Develop an Network Action Plan (Years 1 - 2) Step 3: Implement & Step 4: Commitment to Evaluate Action Plan Continuous Cycle of Improvements (Years 5+) (Years 3 - 5) Livable Communities Great Places for All Ages
Including Dementia Friendly
Better Together Recommendations • Integrate from the outset Save time, money and coordinate communication. – DF in all planning phases – Engage dementia-specific stakeholders – Compare domains/sectors; full integration across plan – Or develop DF domain • Existing AF Communities Include people w/dementia and caregivers in process. • Existing DF Communities Broaden conversation to include needs of all residents as they age.
Better Together: Comparing Processes • Timelines and Phases – AF: 5-year timetable, action plan wider in scope. DF: flexible timeline • Political Commitment – AF: letter from elected. DF: no formal membership but readiness criteria suggests at least 3 sectors • Stakeholders – Both require active constituent engagement, i.e. older adults and people with dementia and caregivers; DF/dementia interest groups, AF/reps from 8 domains
Better Together: Comparing Processes • Accountability – AF: 5-continuous cycle of improvement, action plans submitted and approved, progress reports. DF: no formal oversight. • Learning Networks – Both offer range of tools, resources and connections and they share tools. – Both encourage communities to be better places for older adults and people with dementia to live. But it’s Better Together -- an official connection strengthens the work!
Better Together: Comparing Content of the Work • Flexibility – DF: more proscriptive both in actions and in stakeholders to engage. AF: communities can design their approaches and add or delete domains. • Role of Caregivers – DF: caregivers explicitly considered. AF: caregivers are considered but attention not comparable.
Better Together: Comparing Content of the Work • Diverse vs. Specific Needs – DF: guidance re specific needs of particular group. AF: tries to account for broad diversity of needs in older adults. • Stigma and Social Isolation – DF: awareness and stigma reduction at top of list but not comparable in AF work.
Other Better Together Recommendations • THPF: Report on Demographics, Programs & Services for an Age and Dementia Friendly Commonwealth “… while there’s been a dramatic increase in the number of communities working to become age friendly, most of the state is not … This is unfortunate because the exchange of support, encouragement, and lessons learned is diminished because communities are not considering age friendly opportunities strategically.”
RESOURCES
AARP Age-Friendly Resources • Community Challenge Grants AARP awarded grants in 2017 for pilots/activities supporting livable community projects nationally. More money available next year. • Quarterly Webinars • Conferences (annual AARP Livable Communities Conference). • TA with applications and action plans from state and national AARP offices; conference calls; learning communities. • Online toolkits and sample documents. • More AARP resources in process : online action plan template, workbooks with pullout surveys and assessments, online data survey to track AF impact in communities.
AARP Caregiver Resources & Advocacy • Care Act (in effect as of Nov 8,2017) – Hospital provides patient opportunity to designate caregiver; caregiver notified when patient discharged or moved; caregiver given explanation and demonstration of medical tasks. • Prepare to Care DIY Toolkit – Sign up on AARP Volunteer Portal for access • Caregiver Guide (also in Spanish)
For More Information Valerie Spain, Age Friendly Lead vspain@aarp.org Austin Hodge, Advocacy Specialist ahodge@aarp.org Antron Watson, Program Specialist awatson@aarp.org Links • AARP.org/livable • AARP.org/agefriendly (link to application, toolkits and materials) • AARP.org/livabilityindex 19
Start Where You Stand: how to begin and sustain your Dementia Friendly efforts November 9, 2017 Emily Kearns, PhD, MBA Dementia Friendly Massachusetts
Speaking of Dementia: Language Matters • Dementia is – NOT a specific disease • Dementia is - a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life • Memory loss is an example • Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia • Some conditions creating dementia are reversible- thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies
Reframing Dementia: Inclusion and Accessibility World Health Organization’s Action Plan – April 2017 Dementia Action Alliance – First Annual Conference June 2017 • Dementia as living with a disability • Dementia as a public health issue • Language change – Not “suffering” from dementia but living with challenges – Not “demented” but living with dementia • Culture change – disabilities rights movement – “nothing about me without me” – Inclusion, accessibility, being seen as a resource – People living with dementia, like all of us, need and deserve to live with purpose and choice • Ex. Mentoring and advocacy – Dementia Action Alliance
Prevalence and Whole-Community Impact • 1 in 10 people age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s Disease (10 percent!) - Not including other causes of dementia • Of those living with Alzheimer’s: 3 % are ages 65 – 74 17% are ages 75 – 84 32% are 85 and older
Massachusetts • Current: 120,000 individuals living w Alzheimer’s • 2025: 150,000 will be living w Alzheimer’s = a 25% increase Source: Alzheimer’s Association 2017 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Alzheimer’s Dement 2017; 13:325 -373
Disparities • Older African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to live with Alzheimer’s and other dementias • African- Americans: twice as likely than older whites • Hispanics – 1.5 times as likely than older whites • NOTE: genetic factors don’t seem to account for this difference in prevalence. • Health, lifestyle, and socioeconomic risk factors do
The Response: Dementia Friendly Massachusetts Executive Office Of Elder Affairs
Dementia Friendly Massachusetts Goals • Support and accelerate the creation and expansion of dementia friendly systems and grassroots programs across Massachusetts. • Ensure that diverse stakeholders are engaged, and that benefits reach varied geographic and cultural communities. • Support the integration of age-friendly and dementia friendly efforts.
Creating Livable Communities Aligning Age- and Dementia Friendly Efforts Livable Communities = Age-Friendly Domains w Dementia Friendly Emphases Inclusion: include people living with dementia and their care partners in the planning Accessibility: Built and Social Environments are Accessible to those living w memory impairment Examples: Housing and Transportation Planning
Livable Communities: Aligning Age- and Dementia Friendly Efforts 8 Domains of Livability The Built Environment The Social Environment
Twitter dfamerica.org @dfamerica_
Community Web-Based Resource
An All ll-Sectors Approach
Start Where You Stand Step 1: Select a domain/program area to start Step 2: Create a workgroup comprised of individuals representing several sectors in your community Step 3: Include individuals with dementia in the workgroup Step 4: Assess the domain/program area for dementia friendliness - What’s working well? - What needs strengthening? - KEY: Is it accessible: clear signage, training for staff and community, etc.? Step 5: Create an action plan – identifying resources, responsible parties, task/timeline, intergenerational participation Step 6: Celebrate wins! Step 7: Slow and steady – evolving process!
Example: Transportation • How accessible is the public transportation for those with memory impairment – visual signs, safe bus stops, accessible crosswalks? • Is there a volunteer drivers program? • Are paratransit drivers trained in dementia awareness? • Are Uber and LYFT drivers trained in dementia awareness?
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