Age-friendly wilton manors, florida, and equity

CREATING A SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOME TO AGE-IN-PLACE “Wilton Manors is home to many older LGBT+ adults, and we are focusing on the issue of social isolation and providing affordable, accessible

housing for this population," says Goodnight. "We want to make sure that LGBT+ seniors don’t 'Go back into the closet' as they age, as many don't feel safe coming

out to medical providers or caregivers, and they sometimes feel uncomfortable in ‘mainstream’ assisted living facilities. Many older community members in Wilton Manors don't have

children, or don't have relatives nearby, which makes it difficult for them to reside in their homes as they age." Members of the Wilton Manors Community Affairs Advisory Board

posed for a group photo while staffing a bicycle safety event. Photo courtesy City of Wilton Manors PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS * Area Agency on Aging of Broward County * Poverello Center * The

Pride Center at Equality Park * South Florida Institute on Aging * SunServe One of Age-Friendly Wilton Manors' major partners is the Pride Center at Equality Park, which has been

operating since 1993 and provides LGBT+-focused health care and safety net services, social and educational opportunities and office space for sister organizations and programs. The

center's active aging programming is one of the nation’s largest LGBT+ senior programs and its events reach thousands each year. A key component of Age-Friendly Wilton Manors'

action plan was supporting the construction of the center’s Residences at Equality Park, an affordable housing project for senior adults, with a special focus on LGBT+ individuals. The

Equality Park residence is Florida’s first affordable housing community with customized supportive services for LGBT+ seniors. The project gives residents a safe place to live and the

services they need to age in place. The city provided financial support for the project and the first 48 units (out of a future total of 130) opened in October 2020. "The Pride Center

received nearly 1,500 applications for the 48 units, so we know there's a huge demand for affordable senior housing in South Florida," says Goodnight. The city's action plan

also calls for making its streets more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly. "We recently acquired property to upgrade access to one of our popular parks so it's easier to enter if

someone is using a wheelchair or has difficulties walking," Goodnight explains. ACTIVATING CIVIC PARTICIPATION The Community Affairs Advisory Board, which is made up of engaged

volunteers, leads Wilton Manors’ participation in the AARP age-friendly network. The board submitted the city's application and led its community survey. "Through the survey we

discovered the community wasn’t aware of the city's programs," says Goodnight. To get the word out about what's available and how to access it, the board created the _Wilton

Manors Senior Resource Guide_. "During the pandemic we've been able to activate volunteers from our retiree community. As we checked in on our vulnerable homebound seniors, we

learned that they needed face masks and home food deliveries," notes Goodnight. "Our volunteers helped staff food distribution events. Volunteering helps to reduce social isolation

and keeps our senior population active in community life." MARRYING THE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL "My husband and I moved to our dream retirement home in Wilton Manors after long

careers in Southern California — and we both started second careers working for the city!" Goodnight shares. "As a same-sex couple that has been together for more than 40 years, it

was our dream to move to a city with a large LGBT+ population that was also age-friendly.  We've been in Wilton Manors for seven years and absolutely love it here! I was always

fascinated by seniors who reinvent themselves. I never thought I’d become one of them!”  RELATED RESOURCES AARP LINKS More from AARP.org/Livable  Use the dropdown to choose a livability

topic. Select a Subject Visit another community: Age-Friendly Network Communities and Equity _Reported by Mary Kay Bailey  |  Fall 2020  | Population data from the U.S. Census and UCLA_