Macon-Bibb Age Friendly Community Initiative Work Plan

Transcription

1 Age Friendly Domain Workgroup Recommendations Steps to Implementation Due Date Outdoor Spaces and Buildings Construction or reconstruction of a new senior center. Review several locations throughout the community to either build a new senior center or reconstruct an existing vacant building for use as the new senior center. September 2014 Ensure that new senior center location is accessible by public transportation and includes programming that is of interest to all segments of the Macon-Bibb Age- Friendly community. September 2014 A. Highlight public safety enhancements via more positive coverage in the media, i.e., newspapers, television, and radio. B. Plan more senior and family friendly activities in the parks and advertise throughout the community. Work with Macon-Bibb County Public Affairs Officer to create articles for the Macon-Bibb Parks & Recreation Newsletter that cover topics such as: security of buildings and properties, installation of security cameras at community centers, improved lighting at building entrances, facility enhancements at community centers and updated HVAC systems. Establish an Age-Friendly communication link and/or conduct educational marketing in Ovations 365, The College Hill Alliance, The Macon Alliance, and Macon Magazine. Meet with Macon-Bibb Parks & Recreation Newsletter editor to seek ideas on how AF workgroup can help to promote publication's calendar of recreational opportunities which enhance the social, cultural, and physical well being of residents Plan Updated: Feb

2 Age Friendly Domain Workgroup Recommendations Steps to Implementation Due Date and visitors in the community. Contact Parks & Recreation to obtain feedback on their four community meetings with citizens on recreational needs. Develop draft list of actions the Age Friendly workgroup can take to assist Macon-Bibb Department and present to the Workgroup for feedback and approval. Completed August 2013 Outdoor Spaces and Buildings, Cont. C. Contact officials from other communities that have successful community parks with high public utilization by all ages and identify best practices. Ongoing activity by Macon-Bibb Parks and Recreation. D. Work with Macon-Bibb Parks & Recreation Department to ensure an Age-Friendly focus when planning for new community centers and parks. This focus should include the installation of call boxes, recharging locations for scooters, adequate benches, and enhanced lighting. Include these elements into future construction and renovation plans. F. Community athletes and sports teams need to have scheduled events listed in the Parks & Recreation Newsletter. Ongoing activity by Macon-Bibb Parks and Recreation. Transportation A. Inform senior communities of transportation services and promote usage. Contact churches and senior centers to identify specific community transportation services already in place. Plan Updated: Feb

3 Arrange for a meeting of church and community center Activity Directors to better assess community transportation needs. Set up a meeting with Macon-Bibb Transportation officials to discuss the feasibility of blocking off portions of downtown traffic during evening hours to stimulate greater pedestrian and cycle usage and sense of community. Transportation, Cont. B. Advertise discounted rates for seniors and youth. Post routes on the MTA website and at the terminal station. Advertisements may also be placed at community centers, senior center, and libraries. C. Sponsor annual "Car Fit" vehicle safety event; this program reinforces basic car maintenance with seniors and reviews whether or not a senior's car is appropriately fitted to their physical abilities and needs. Coordinate a class with a qualified teacher through AARP. September 2014 D. Coordinate with Macon-Bibb Transportation Department to identify enhancements which consider feedback from the office's Needs Assessment Survey results. Promote additional purchases of fuelefficient/zero emissions buses for public transportation. Encourage the inclusion of more active "people-friendly" highway and street designs. Designs should include the use of sidewalks into street design. Plan Updated: Feb

4 E. Provide transportation to community events for seniors, especially low income seniors and nondrivers. Identify potential need for services and explore options for offering services and marketing approaches. F. Conduct a transit/sidewalk study to determine pedestrian use and the need for sidewalk placement, as well as cross walks and signals. Arrange a meeting with the City to discuss feasibility of blocking off portions of downtown traffic during evening hours to stimulate greater pedestrian and cycle usage and sense of community. Transportation, Cont. Install sound barriers along the future construction of I-75 to improve the quality of life of the residents impacted by freeway noise. TBD Development of bike trails along more roadways throughout the community G. Create a system that will enable better communication between the transit authority and the community. Research the feasibility of installing GPS systems on all MTA buses that are able to indicate their immediate location. Create system that will enable MTA consumers to use personal technology devices to gain up-to-the-minute information on the location of public transit through the use of installed GPS systems on MTA vehicles. Plan Updated: Feb

5 Housing A. Collaboration with the Community Support and Health domain subcommittee to accomplish established recommendations on overlapping issues. Domain committees will meet together at least bi-monthly. B. Establish a process for educating seniors about available housing options such as the Affordable Housing Program. Conduct public forums on such areas as housing, medication assistance programs, senior rights, transportation, mental health services, and train the trainer workshops. March 2014 Host annual resource fairs that have vendors on hand to provide help with availability of housing, mortgage issues, home maintenance workshops, etc. September 2014 Support senior events such as the Area Agency on Aging's Senior Day Expo, Parks & Recreation's Golden Olympics, Mayor Reichert's Senior Christmas Celebration, etc. 4. Create a Welcome/Resource packet that will provide a consistent message and will include housing, community, and health resources. C. Increase the availability of safe, warm, and dry age-friendly housing units. Collaborate with developers of new construction and renovation projects to encourage the use of universal design that will improve accessibility for seniors. Plan Updated: Feb

6 Housing, Cont. Development of cost-effective financing systems that will enable seniors to afford repairs and home modifications needed to allow them to age in place D. Establish a Macon-Bibb Housing Forum consisting of housing agencies. Coordinate agencies and set regular meeting dates and times. Invite service providers to present and discuss trending housing issues and potential collaborations. Social Participation A. Utilize the central community calendar, Ovations 365. Increase awareness of RSVP programs and Senior Corp programs. Work with promoters to advertise activities for all ages. B. Educate activity coordinators in the community about existing programs and opportunities. Identify activity coordinators. Set up distribution lists. quarterly with updates and information. Respect and Inclusion Social A. Utilize the central community calendar, Ovations 365. Work with venues to ensure/promote handicap access. B. Provide continuing education for all ages. Provide classes at libraries, Hutchings Career Center, and area colleges. Plan Updated: Feb

7 Age Friendly Domain Workgroup Recommendations Steps to Implementation Due Date Civic Participation and Employment A. Sponsor a website for the public to post specific questions about the community and post responses on the site as a resource for others seeking information on the Macon-Bibb community. Identify possibilities for the website, including a host that is able to develop the website and maintain the website information and updates. December 2014 B. Help students age 50+ write and publish their life stories/experiences to enlighten others. Set up writing workshops for the public through the Macon Telegraph, Daybreak, Facebook, and YouTube. Provide "Train the Trainer" workshops that will allow volunteers to assist others with their storytelling. C. Assist impoverished people, through Lens of Poverty, to tell their own stories in their authentic voice which are available through Amazon and in bookstores. Marketing of "the stories" through media and video. D. Place students in the community to participate in various service projects. Identify various interns at local colleges - use of high school students, non-profit organizations, veterans, Habitat for Humanity and Mercer University Service Learning. E. Provide referrals for legal assistance with workplace rights to those who do not understand the legal process and/or who cannot afford legal representation. Identify and contact appropriate legal representatives or agencies (i.e., AARP, GA Legal Services of Macon-Bibb County, Mercer Law School, and the faith based community.) Plan Updated: Feb

8 Civic Participation and Employment, Cont. F. Build and expand collaborations with local universities to leverage opportunities for seniors in such programs as: professional studies and enrichment classes to strengthen/learn new skills, service learning internships and community programs, and free classes for adults aged 62 and older. Have Age-Friendly representatives meet with organizations to promote these collaborations. Examples include: the Georgia Informer, Macon Black Pages, Macon Telegraph and News, local colleges, websites and Heaven's Light Radio Program, etc. December 2014 G. Ensure that Macon-Bibb maintains an agefriendly focus to address the availability of large print records (i.e. taxes, etc.), telephone communications for the deaf, and promotes an active lifestyle. Identify options and develop strategies for Age-Friendly group. H. Disseminate flyers, electronic documents and postings on websites that advertise various opportunities for civic participation and employment to schools, churches, and other appropriate organizations. December 2014 I. Host "Porch Stories" during Cherry Blossom Discussion with Cherry Blossom Festival. Festival. Recruit neighborhood homeowners. Recruit storytellers. March 2014 September 2015 September 2015 Communication and Information A. Utilize the central community calendar, Ovations 365. Increase awareness of RSVP programs and Senior Corp programs. B. Coordinate with Senior News Magazine on ways to access and distribute information on Age- Friendly initiatives. Work with promoters to advertise activities for all ages. Identify point of contact at Senior News and provide information for articles and distribution. March 2014 Plan Updated: Feb

9 Coordinate with Senior News Magazine on ways to access and distribute information on Age- Friendly initiatives. Identify point of contact at Senior News and provide information for articles and distribution. Communication and Information, Cont. B. Contact church groups for input and to disseminate information on Age-Friendly initiatives Identify activity coordinators. Set up distribution lists. quarterly with updates and information. Community and Health Services A. Conduct focus group discussions with older residents of Macon-Bibb in order to hear from constituents what their greatest concerns and recommendations are for improving health care, social support, and access to services. Collaborate with students and faculty at Mercer Graduate School of Public health to plan and implement focus group Once focus group discussions are completed and analysis of their data has taken place, disseminate this information beginning with the Age-Friendly Community Advisory Committee in order to better inform the community of our work. March 2014 Use collected data to help the Social Support and Health committee determine which subjects should be addressed in community events and Public Service Announcements as described in the following recommendations. October Use the established methods to conduct similar focus group discussions about housing and other Age-Friendly domains. October 2014 Plan Updated: Feb

10 Community and Health Services, Cont. B. Hold regular on-going educational forums addressing health issues that were identified by focus group participants and through discussions with service providers and other Solicit speakers from community organizations, gerontology health care specialists, and other organizations. Hold forums in easily accessible community locations and make these events a regular feature in the community. C. Create and air PSAs with relevant public health information on local televisions and radio stations and in newspapers. Solicit participation of locally known figures (i.e., local commissioners, TV reporters, prominent religious leaders, etc.) as actors/presenters to personalize messages and increase self-efficacy among audience. October 2014 Collaborate with advertising experts and educators to craft messages that will reach the intended audience. October 2014 D. The Community Support and Health domain committee will continue to work with the Housing domain committee in a collaborative effort to accomplish recommendations for issues that overlap in both domains in efforts to increase efficiency. Committees will meet together at least bimonthly. Plan Updated: Feb