2021 aarp livable communities engagement workshop: innovation showcase

CHRISTY NISHITA, PH.D. Coordinator, Age-Friendly Honolulu (Time Stamp 37:05) * Honolulu has “a culture that respects our _kupuna_ — our older adults,” says Nishita. Age-Friendly Honolulu

partnered with local high schools to develop a curriculum on aging and elder care, encouraging teens to consider careers in aging services. (Nishita says the program is aimed at ensuring

Honolulu as an adequate workforce to support older adults in the future.) Students participate in intergenerational activities with older adults, including through an intergenerational

initiative with Blue Zones Hawaii called Purpose Pals, which pairs teens with older adults. The relationships were particularly needed during the pandemic, Nishita says, when so many people,

of all ages, faced social isolation.  NIKI DELSON Co-Chair, Carbondale Age-Friendly Community Initiative (Time Stamp 39:42) * Locally known as CAFCI, this Carbondale, Colorado-based

age-friendly initiative is a fully-grassroots organizing effort. (Carbondale as a community has no staff positions designated for elder work and CAFCI has no budget.) The town is a

destination for skiers, rafters, fly fishers, cyclists and retirees. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, CAFCI members helped secure vaccine appointments for older residents. Using

the _AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit_, CAFCI volunteers walked every priority roadway and documented their findings. In the end, town trustees got the message, and they budgeted $750,000 over three

years to make a dangerous street safer. “But more importantly,” says Delson, “because of our expertise, strength and perseverance, we are no longer footnotes. Our elected officials see us

as a resource to the community.” Stephanie Giacomo Grant Writer/Administrator, City of McAlester, Oklahoma (Time Stamp: 43:05) * McAlester is a town in rural southeast Oklahoma, located

within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation. A third of the population is over age 50 and many residents reside in the area for their entire lives. McAlester does not have a town square or

central plaza in its downtown. This meant the downtown had no connection point for people, Stephanie Giacomo explains. “If you’re from a small town, you already know historic downtowns are

the heard of the city and are still vibrant,” se says. An underutilized parking lot near a mix of new and established businesses was chosen to become the town center. The bank that owned the

lot donated it to the community. Town employees and volunteers relocated utilities on the site to accommodate food trucks and pop-up businesses. They rebuilt sidewalks, laid new sod and

installed benches, bike racks, trash cans, tables and chairs and drinking fountains. An AARP Community Challenge grant helped fund the project. "We transformed a vehicle-centric space

into a connecting point for people,” Giacomo says during her Innovation Showcase presentation. The new greenspace has since led to more public art, community festivals and increased

investment in McAlester’s downtown. Christy Patch, J.D., Ph.D. Community and Aging Policy Specialist, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Aging & Independence Services 

(Time Stamp 46:03) * Age-Friendly San Diego County engaged area students to create short films highlighting the importance of age-friendly community work. The students could chose to feature

programs addressing housing, transportation or related issues faced by the region’s aging population. Students who participated received stipends and mentorship, as well as access to film

equipment. “Age-friendly community building is important because it helps us close the gap between older generations and younger generations,” one student filmmaker said. Another shared, “I

think one of the biggest gifts you can give someone else is the ability and willingness to listen and empathize.” JEAN SAUNDERS, Director, Age Friendly Saco, Maine (Time Stamp 50:06) * Saco,

Maine is a seaside community of about 20,000 in southern Maine. The town’s Tech Handy Helper program seeks to bridge the digital divide by helping older adults obtain smart technology

devices, such as the Echo Dot or Google Home systems. Volunteers help the recipients install the smart speakers and learn how to use them. Costing about $50 to purchase, plus the price of

internet access, the devices are a lower-cost alternative to commercial medical alert devices, which can run from $240 and to $900 a year. In the case of an emergency, residents can tell the

speaker to “Call the Saco Fire Department.” The device will also call the user’s personal contacts one by one until someone answers. Smart speakers can be programmed to provide medication

reminders, set timers for exercise regimes, check the weather, lock doors, turn lights off or on, compile grocery lists and make calls to loved ones. Saunders says the smart speaker devices

help Saco’s older adults maintain their independence, remain in their homes and stay socially connected. JOSÉ GÓMEZ Co-Founder and CEO, Espacio Lúdico (Time Stamp 53:24) * Espacio Lúdico, a

non-governmental organization in Chile, emphasizes the importance of urban social life. Gomez says his organization began with the question: “Is it possible to have good quality of life in

our cities if 80 percent of all public spaces are designed for automobiles?” Espacio Lúdico works to recover public spaces so residents can gather, socialize, hold festivals and make

political and cultural connections. The organization focuses on creating playful spaces that stimulate creativity and connect people. Projects incorporate murals, sidewalk games and outdoor

spaces for gathering and performances. Although most people associate play with children, play is a basic component of human nature, he explains, one that creates a union between residents

and their neighborhoods, fosters collective and collaborative work, and instills a sense of pride. Learn more about Espacio Lúdico from AARP International. (Once there, scroll down the page

to find the event recording and a downloadable case study.) Learn More 2021 AARP Livable Communities Engagement Workshop More from AARP.org/Livable  Use the dropdown to choose a livability

topic. Select a Subject