Albany County Age Friendly Initiative plans first community meeting

Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy will host a stakeholders’ meeting for over 200 representatives of area agencies on Wednesday, July 12, for the Age Friendly Albany County initiative he announced in October.

A World Health Organization representative from the United Nations is scheduled to attend to make a presentation along with a state representative of AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons, which leads the initiative in the United States for the World Health Organization.

State officials will also provide a welcome and speak about Governor Andrew Cuomo’s goal to make New York State the first age-friendly state in the country. County leaders will discuss plans for the initiative.

The stakeholders’ meeting is the first large public meeting for the Age Friendly Albany County initiative. The meeting is to discuss the initiative’s goals and the process that will be used as the initiative unfolds over a multi-year period.

A Community Council will be formed with representatives of the towns and municipalities in the county. Committees will be formed from those interested persons regarding the eight “domains” of livability that the World Health Organization has identified for an age-friendly community.

The eight domains are:

— 1. Outdoor Spaces and Public Buildings;

— 2. Transportation;

— 3. Housing;

— 4. Social Participation;

— 5. Respect and Social Inclusion;

— 6. Civic Participation and Employment;

— 7. Communication and Information; and

— 8. Community and Health Services.

Community Caregivers will be supporting the county’s initiative by attending the July 12 event, providing our input and expertise through our staff and volunteers, and participating in the committees. We will be reaching out to members of the community where we serve through local events and community meetings to gain as wide a view as possible into what makes a place age friendly.

We hope readers might be interested in joining these discussions; please look for notice of these events beginning in the fall.

Community Caregivers Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides non-medical services including transportation and caregiver support at no charge to residents of Guilderland, Bethlehem, Altamont, New  Scotland, Berne, Knox, and the city of Albany through a strong volunteer pool of dedicated individuals with a desire to assist their neighbors.

Our funding is derived in part from the Albany County Department for Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the United States Administration on Aging. To find out more about our services, as well as volunteer opportunities, please visit www.communitycaregivers.org or call us at (518) 456-2898.

Editor’s note: Michael Burgess is the Health Policy Consultant for Community Caregivers Inc.