Age-Friendly New Bedford

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About the Movement

The “age-friendly” initiative is a project of AARP and the World Health Organization (WHO) that launched in 2006 and has since expanded to 44 nations. The effort aims to prepare cities and towns for a rapidly aging population and increased urbanization. According to the AARP, an age-friendly community is one that is safe, secure, inclusive, has affordable housing and transportation options, and offers support services. In Massachusetts, 75 towns or cities are designated as age friendly.

As part of achieving the age-friendly designation from the AARP, the City of New Bedford was required to draft an action plan – a document outlining steps the city can take to become a more livable place for everyone. The process began back in 2015 as a joint venture between the City and Coastline. The Tufts Health Plan Foundation awarded Coastline a grant to carry out the action plan.

The effort to make New Bedford a more age-friendly city is divided into seven broad categories, or domains: housing, outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, community support and health services, social participation, civic participation and employment, and communication and information. More than two dozen people representing various agencies, nonprofits and municipal departments took part in planning and development to ensure that steps in the action plan were implemented.

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Action Plan

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Action Items

Resources and Information

New Bedford native is changing the narrative on aging

Senior Scope spoke with Changing the Narrative founder Janine Vanderburg this month about her life growing up in New Bedford and her work to end ageism. Changing the Narrative is a Denver-based initiative to end ageism through evidence-based strategies, community...

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Coastline is Seeking Proposals

Coastline Elderly Services, Inc. (CESI) Area Agency on Aging is requesting proposals pursuant to Public Law 109-365 for Supportive Services, Legal, Transportation, and Caregiver services. Projects should be targeted to individuals 60 years of age or older throughout...

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In the Media

 

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