1. Worcester County Town Manager’s Quarterly Meeting
James Fuccione – Senior Director
January 2018
The work of the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative is supported in part by Tufts Health Plan Foundation.

2. What is the MHAC?
The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative is a network of leaders in community, health and wellness, government, advocacy, research, business, education, and philanthropy who have come together to advance healthy aging.
Focus: Advancing Age-Friendly and Dementia Friendly Communities
Building and supporting the Age-Friendly movement in Massachusetts
Deepen capacity-building work at the community level
Embed access, equity, and inclusivity in our approach and the Age-Friendly movement
Develop and communicate policy and advocacy platform

3. ICYMI: Gov. Baker Declares MA Age-Friendly
“Last spring, I appointed a Council to address aging. With a goal of making Massachusetts the most age-friendly state in the nation. The council has provided a platform to think beyond public programs and to draw on expertise in technology, health care, business and innovation.
“We’re pleased to announce that AARP has formally designated Massachusetts as one of only two age-friendly states in the country.
“We’ll also be increasing state support for the Councils on Aging in our 2019 budget to the highest level ever.

4. Elevating Best Practices

5. Aging Population in Massachusetts (60+)
2015
2035 (projection)

6. Community and Health Services
What is “Age-Friendly”?
A continuous improvement process focusing on three areas:
Physical environment
Social Environment
Community and health services
Physical Environment
Social Environment
Community and Health Services

7. Where to begin?
It all starts with CONVENING: Active Age- and Dementia Friendly models
Age-Friendly Berkshires (AARP – Municipal Resolution):
Countywide effort began with regional planning agency and private-pay home care company that lead “planning” and “people” sides of the work, respectively.
Volunteers and funding from THPF support coordinator
Age-Friendly Yarmouth (WHO):
Director of Senior Services dedicates time to Age-Friendly work.
Age-Friendly Boston (AARP):
City’s Elderly Commission have dedicated staff to convene groups, liaise between city departments and carry out action plan.
Support came from THPF and UMass Boston
Salem for All Ages (AARP):
Volunteer, retired professor leads “people” side of the work with support from Mayor’s office and local volunteers/volunteer orgs
Support from UMass Boston

8. Using the Age-Friendly Lens – Municipal Gov’t
Example of Municipal Departments
Accounting
Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs
Animal Control
Planning Board
Assessing Department & Board of Assessors
Police
Board of Selectmen
Public Schools
Capital Projects & Facilities Management
Public Works
Conservation Commission
Purchasing
Community & Economic Development
Recreation
Council on Aging
Retirement Board
Cultural Council
Technology Services
Finance Division
Town Clerk
Fire
Town/City Manager
Health Department
Treasurer / Collector
Human Resources
Weights & Measures
Inspectional Services
Veterans Services
Library
Zoning Board of Appeals
Licensing

9. Using the Age-Friendly Lens – Organizations
Focus on linking Social Determinants of Health

10. What Determines Health?
Source: Countyhealthrankings.org

11. Data Gathering

12. Healthy Aging Community Profiles

13. Current State: Age & Dementia Friendly Communities

14. Better Together Strategy

15. Simplified “Better Together” Strategy
Age-Friendly Community efforts…
Include people living with Dementia, caregivers, and service/support providers on task force
A Dementia Friendly advisory group that can focus on raising awareness and working through sectors in coordination with Age-Friendly

16. Overcoming Perceptions: Example

17. Resources and Contact Info
James Fuccione:
AARP: Better Together Report and Framework
AARP: Livability Index
Dementia Friendly Massachusetts Toolkit
MHAC: Age-Friendly Toolkits
MHAC: Mass. Healthy Aging Community Profiles
MHAC: Current Age/Dementia Friendly Communities in MA
N4A Report: Making Your Community Livable for All Ages
WHO: Checklist of essential features of age-friendly cities
NEW! “What We Have and What We Need” – Building an Age- and Dementia Friendly Commonwealth
Tri-State Learning Collaborative: Tools and Resources