Chemung county, emira, big flats, new york, age-friendly community act...

In 2012 Chemung County became the first upstate New York community admitted to the AARP Network of Age Friendly Communities. Chemung County’s population of people 65 and older has increased

from 9 percent in 1940 to 16 percent in 2010 and is expected to reach 21 percent by the year 2030. Following an initial phase of consultation with the community, Chemung County’s

Age-Friendly Community Planning Committee and the Department of Aging and Long Term Care Advisory Council released an action plan that addresses the unique needs of the county, including the

towns of Elmira and Big Flats and the city of Elmira, each of which have also joined the network. A result of extensive collaboration among community groups and stakeholders (ncluding

educational, faith-based, private, public and nonprofit organizations), the Chemung County action plan details 35 key initiatives to be implemented over three years, from 2015 to 2017. For

each initiative, the plan identifies an implementation deadline, the groups and organizations that will move the project forward, a facilitator and performance indicators. (Download the

Chemung County Age-Friendly Action Plan.) KEY POINTS The plan document spells out the following efforts: * Focused promotional campaigns highlighting how the Department of Aging and Long

Term Care and the Age-Friendly Community initiative will be launched to increase awareness of Chemung County’s community resources. * Since several economic factors within the community have

contributed to an increase in abandoned buildings and a strain on local government resources, the accessibility and safety of public buildings, spaces and neighborhoods will be improved. *

Programs will help older adults drive safely and provide safe and cost-effective options for nondrivers. * Since 78 percent of Chemung County householders over the age of 60 own their homes,

and 70 percent of the people in that group do not have a mortgage, home modification and rehabilitation programs will help residents remain in their homes. * Because social isolation is a

growing problem among older people, Chemung County will work to increase awareness of the community’s age-friendly cultural and social programs. * Caregiver respite and programs that help

older adults mentor and tutor will be developed as will strengthened health care delivery systems and health and wellness programs that promote active aging. HOW TO USE Chemung County is

creating an Age-Friendly Community Coalition to oversee the plan’s implementation, evaluation and revision. The coalition will refine performance indicators for each initiative, with the

goal of using them as the foundation for a report that will be completed at the end of the implementation period.