ST
ONEHAM COA, UMASS BOSTON TEAM UP FOR AGE-FRIENDLY INITIATIVE
Stoneham’s population of older adults is growing and changing. Compared to the Commonwealth, Stoneham has a higher proportion of residents 60 and older. Current projections by UMASS Boston and the MAPC all suggest steady increases in the share of older adults in Stoneham’s population over the next decade.
To prepare for these changes, Stoneham has joined the World Health Organization’s global network of age friendly (AF) communities. The goal of this designation is to identify ways that we as a community can optimize opportunities for health, participation, and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age.
The first step in the process towards becoming age friendly is to document the needs of older adults and our strengths as a community in order to identify what we can do as a community to improve programs, services, and space.
Beginning this week through October 30, Stoneham residents are encouraged to view a video produced by the UMass Boston Center for Social & Demographic Research in Aging, and complete a four question survey. The video and survey can be found on the front page of the Stoneham Senior Center website: www.stonehamseniorcenter.org.
“To kick off the program, we felt that it is important to get input from Stoneham citizens of all ages to know what are the primary concerns as they age, and what we as a town can do to assist those aging in place, whether they remain in the family home or plan to downsize within the town,” said Council on Aging Director Maureen Canova.
For more information on the Age-Friendly Initiative, contact the Stoneham Senior Center at (781) 438-1157 or visit www.stonehamseniorcenter.org.