#Middlebury
Across the U.S. there are 296 communities in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. These represent 75 million people who live in areas that work to provide all that’s necessary to create livable communities for everyone, especially seniors.
AARP gives grants to these communities for specific efforts, such as to improve the walkability of downtowns, train volunteers in dementia programs, build raised planters in community gardens, create age-friendly trails and bike paths, and install key-code boxes outside the homes of elderly so EMTs can gain quick access.
To find out if you’re in an area that has senior services like these, go online to aarp.org and search for Age-Friendly Network. Scroll down to see if your community has joined the AARP network. If it isn’t listed, you can learn how to get started in your area.
Other organizations also help seniors. Aging in Place, for example, has information on how mobility options can allow seniors to stay in their homes. Whether it’s in-home stair lifts or transportation to appointments, Aging in Place has information on its website at aginginplace.org.
Depending on the level of support from individual states, some local Aging at Home groups adapt their help according to what is needed by those in the community. Some show support by providing services such as yard work, food delivery, snow shoveling and handyman chores. Social opportunities are big, with exercise classes, game nights, nutrition programs and luncheons. Transportation, especially in rural areas, helps to get seniors to their appointments with doctors and friends.
To find senior services in your area, go online to search for “at home senior services” and your state. The organizations have names like Home Instead, At Home, Aging in Place and others.
(c) 2018 King Features Synd. Inc.
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