Sisters gains ‘age-friendly’ status

Sue Stafford | Last updated Jul 02, 2019 12:0pm0

On June 1, 2019, the City of Sisters was accepted as a member of the World Health Organization’s Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities.

Membership reflects the City’s commitment to listen to the needs of their aging population, assess and monitor their age-friendliness, and work collaboratively with older people and across sectors to create age-friendly physical and social environments. It signals to the citizens of Sisters Country that the City will proactively take age-related issues into consideration in its planning and building codes for both commercial and residential building projects. Membership is also a commitment to share experience, achievements, and lessons learned with other cities and communities.

The WHO network was established in 2010 to connect cities, communities, and organizations worldwide with the common vision of making their community a great place in which to grow old. It focuses on action at the local level that fosters the full participation of older people in community life and promotes healthy and active aging.

The network currently includes 847 cities and communities in 41 countries, covering over 230 million people worldwide. Portland was granted membership in 2012 and was the first U.S. city to be so designated.

As defined by WHO, an age-friendly city has structures and services accessible to and inclusive of older people with varying needs and capacities. The emphasis is on enablement rather than disablement. The built, social, and service environments are friendly for people of all ages and abilities.

“When cities address the needs of older adult citizens, they create an environment that is better for all. For instance, longer lights at crosswalks give older adults – and school kids, and parents with strollers – more time to safely cross a busy street,” explained Susan Rotella, executive director of the Council of Aging of Central Oregon.

Across the globe, populations are growing older because lifespans are increasing, and birth rates are declining. Census Bureau data in 2016 showed that in Sisters, the number of residents aged 65 and older accounted for over 27 percent of the total population. Aging populations will by necessity shape local, regional, national, and international economies and policymaking.

The eight domains of being age-friendly comprise the three key elements of the built, service, and social environments. Those domains and how they impact people include:

•?The outside environment and public buildings have a major impact on the mobility, independence, and quality of life of people in later life.

•?Transportation, including accessible and affordable public transport, is a key issue for people in later life.

•?Housing and support that allows people in late life to age comfortably and safely within the community to which they belong are universally valued.

•?Social participation is strongly connected to good health and wellbeing throughout life.

•?Older people from all backgrounds are valued and respected.

•?An age-friendly community provides options for people in later life to continue to contribute to their communities.

•?Staying connected with events and people and getting timely, practical information to manage life and meet personal needs are vital for active aging.

•?Community support is strongly connected to good health and wellbeing throughout life, alongside accessible and affordable health care services.

Here in the United States, AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities is the WHO affiliate with their AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. The network was launched in April 2012 as an independent affiliate of the WHO network.

“With the age-friendly program, AARP helps participating communities become great places for people of all ages by adopting such features as walkable streets, better housing and transportation options, access to key services, and opportunities for residents to participate in community activities,” according to Nancy LeaMond, Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer for AARP in Washington D.C.

According to LeaMond, enrollment in the network provides member communities with the resources to become more age-friendly by tapping into national and global research, planning models, and best practices.

Locals push age-friendly environment

The declaration of Sisters as an age-friendly community came about through the efforts of a dedicated group of local citizens who picked up on one guest column in The Nugget penned by local resident Joan Power who voiced concerns regarding service gaps in Sisters for the growing population of seniors. She suggested a community-wide meeting be held to discuss the concerns.

Through the organizing of public events by Citizens4Community to encourage discussion and provide education, a group called the Senior Alliance formed to create momentum for addressing the concerns raised. More education/discussion events were held, including efforts by St. Charles Health System Community Foundation and the Council on Aging of Central Oregon.

A core group of volunteers agreed to rebrand the Senior Alliance and expand its scope for inclusivity by forming Age-Friendly Sisters Country, following the World Health Organization’s guidelines (see related story on page 1) in order to implement action items and seek funding for projects.

AFSC was identified as a partner in the Sisters Country Horizons Vision Project, which identified a number of strategies and action items related to issues for aging citizens and those who find themselves on the margins of society for whatever reason. AFSC believes that everyone is somewhere on the path toward aging, and those communities that serve the needs of older adults benefit everyone in the long run.

A Board of Directors was formed, bylaws were written, articles of incorporation were filed, and in March 2019 they were granted their 501(c)(3) non-profit status. AFSC will continue to administer the age-friendly status for the City, by acting as an umbrella organization providing networking, organizational expertise, professional accounting, and the non-profit status for organization, groups, and individuals who want to work toward solving area issues related to housing, transportation, education, health services, social inclusion, volunteerism/employment, or buildings and public spaces for community congregations.

They seek to create, encourage, and sustain partnerships with those in the community whose focus, services, and activities are consistent with their mission and goals. Their mission is “to create, encourage, and sustain partnerships that foster active, inclusive living for people of all ages and abilities in Sisters Country.”

Board member Toni Landis explained, “Individuals with a great idea and the motivation to act are often stymied in their work because they don’t have a way to apply for grants or receive funds that might be available. In partnership with AFSC, they have status to apply for grants and can receive grant funds.”

“The concept is that this will free those groups and individuals that want to translate vision into action to do so without the ‘overhead’ of needing to go through the hoops of becoming incorporated, getting 501(c)(3) recognition, or setting up banking and reporting protocols,” according to board member John Griffith.

Robyn Holdman of Citizens4Community said, “Since the beginning of the initiative, every effort has been made to ensure that all aspects of the work have been profoundly inclusive. The local service providers for senior citizens have all been invited to participate – SPRD, the Fire District and its Fire Corps, the City, Council on Aging, the churches, etc. Through numerous articles in the local newspaper, promotion during senior citizen activities and events, and C4C-sponsored community meetings and events, people of all ages and abilities have been invited to provide input and to get involved.”

The AFSC board members and their areas of responsibility include: Rendal Broomhead, president, health services, urgent care, St. Charles; Toni Landis, president-elect, transportation, WHO, Council on Aging; Dixie Eckford, secretary, Sisters Country Horizons Vision, age-friendly global network, outdoor spaces, and Council on Aging; John Griffith, treasurer, communications and volunteerism; Beverly Halcon, community support and health services, Sisters Fire Corps; Diane Goble, housing and Housing Policy Board; and Chris Laing, C4C liaison, social participation and social inclusion.

AFSC has a Facebook page, Age Friendly Sisters Country, and an email address, agefriendlysisters

@gmail.com. Watch for their website soon at

http://www.agefriendlysisters.com.