Elder Friendly

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ElderFriendly
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Elder Friendly Communities
My learners will

1. Define the phrase Elder Friendly Community.
2. Identify characteristics of elder friendly
   communities.
3. Learn to use a score sheet for evaluating their
   communitys elder friendliness.
4. Be motivated to gather with others and use the
   score sheet as a tool to help enhance elder
   friendliness in their community.

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Theres No Place Like Home!
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Elder Friendly Communities
A Definition

• An elder friendly community is one where elders
  are vitally involved, supported, and valued. It
  is a place where elders truly feel they are at
  home.

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
HOUSING

• Residential housing is safe close to needed
  services
• A variety of affordable housing options are
  available
• Senior apartments available
• Assisted living facilities available
• Quality nursing home facilities available
• Others

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
TRANSPORTATION

• Elders can get transportation when they need it
• Elders can get transportation to elective
  activities as well as medical appointments
• Elder transportation is handicapped accessible

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
TRANSPORTATION

• Elder transportation is affordable
• Assisted elder transportation is available
• Others

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
ACCESSIBILITY

• Plenty of safe outdoor space
• Sufficient places to sit down
• Streets and addresses are well-marked
• Stoplights timed to allow elders time to cross
• Wide and well-maintained sidewalks

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
ACCESSIBILITY

• Low and easily navigated curbs
• Sufficient parking close to stores, churches,
  etc.
• Sufficient and well-placed handicapped parking
• Others

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
SERVICES

• Information/referral services available and
  easily found
• A hospital or clinic in the community
• Affordable chore handyman services available
• Congregate and home delivered meals available

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
SERVICES

• Friendly visiting/phone call services available
• In-home nursing services available
• Information and training services for caregivers
  available
• Caregiver respite services available
• Caregiver support groups available
• Others

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
WORK

• Job opportunities for elders
• Volunteering opportunities for elders
• Mentoring opportunities for elders?
• Others

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
SHOPPING

• An accessible grocery store in town
• A pharmacy in town
• Businesses sensitive to the needs of elders
• Home delivery of groceries, toiletries drugs
  available

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
SHOPPING

• Businesses handicapped accessible
• Others

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
SOCIAL/CULTURAL

• Places for elders to eat socialize
• A large number of elders in the community
• Good diversity of age groups in the community
• Generations interact in the community
• Opportunities for education/lifelong learning for
  elders

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
SOCIAL/CULTURAL

• Cultural events elders can enjoy
• Cultural/social events planned with elders in
  mind (i.e. timing, location, etc.)
• Opportunities for exercise and recreation in a
  safe environment
• Active faith communities
• Active senior center
• Others

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
VALUES

• Elders treated with friendliness and respect
• Elders looked upon as assets in the community
• Community shows an appreciation for local history

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Elder Friendly Communities
Characteristics
VALUES

• Opportunities for active civic involvement open
  to elders
• People of the community educated about the needs
  and strengths of elders?
• Others

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Community Scorecard
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Community Scorecard
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Community Scorecard
Using the Scorecard

• Gather a group of community citizens to complete
  the scorecard
• Take your time do your homework
• Share the results with others in your community
• Identify 3 things you want to improve
• Take action!

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Additional Resources Ideas

• For more copies of the Is My Community Elder
  Friendly? scorecard, go to www.elderberry.org
  under Articles
• Or email me
• tgossett_at_elderberry.org

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Additional Resources Ideas

• Scientific survey for determining the elder
  friendliness of communities put together by the
  Center for Home Care Policy and Research of the
  Visiting Nurse Service of New York.
• www.advantageinitiative.org

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Additional Resources Ideas

• Mid MN SAIL Senior Friendly Community Campaign,
• Maureen Melgaard-Schneider
• 227 South Main Street
• Hutchinson, MN 55350
• 800-223-7292
• Mnsail_at_hutchtel.net

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Additional Resources Ideas

• Canadas Senior FriendlyTM Program
• http//www.seniorfriendly.ca/seniorfriendly.htm
• Alberta Council on Aging website provides
  numerous resources and ideas for building elder
  friendly communities and helping businesses be
  elder friendly

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Additional Resources Ideas

• Is Our Community Senior Ready?
• Great checklist from the MN Board on Aging for
  communities to use to rank themselves on how
  elder friendly they are.

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Additional Resources Ideas

• Forming a Community Based Network
• Excellent tool from Elderberry Institute for
  communities to use to assess where they are
  strong and where they are weak, and how to
  mobilize their community to build elder services.

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Additional Resources Ideas

• To download a copy of this presentation and/or a
  copy of the Is My Community Elder Friendly?
  document, go to www.elderberry.org and click on
  Articles.