WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County an inclusive place to grow up and grow old

WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County What to expect in this session Background What is Age Friendly Erie County? What has happened thus far? Where do we go from here? How can you get involved? Participatory activity and discussion on the current status of aging in Erie County

WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County Age Friendly Communities The AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities encourages states, cities, towns and rural areas to prepare for the rapid aging of the U.S. population by paying increased attention to the environmental, economic and social factors that influence the health and well-being of older adults. The AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities is an affiliate of the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Program, an international effort launched in 2006 to help cities prepare for rapid population aging and the parallel trend of urbanization. More than 20 nations In the U.S., more than three dozen communities representing more than a dozen states – Erie County is one!

WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County Erie County Commitment

WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County Partnership

WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County Vision Our vision is for Erie County to serve as a leader in New York State, and among similar counties nationwide in the network, for creating and supporting a vibrant and resilient community that fosters economic growth, exemplary sustainable design, and inclusive social participation for people of all ages and abilities. The goal of the Age Friendly Communities Erie County Initiative is to connect the numerous local efforts already contributing to an improved quality of life for the aging population in Erie County in order to create a unified and dynamic network dedicated to ensuring a prosperous future for Erie County residents throughout their lifespan.

WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County Erie County Senior Services Created in 1971 Designated an Area Agency on Aging under Title III of the Older Americans Act Primary responsibilities: planning, advocacy, and coordinating activities Programs: caregiving, wellness, housing, nutrition, volunteer and employment, community resources, services & benefits, and transportation

WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County IDeA Center Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access Department of Architecture & Planning at University at Buffalo Multidisciplinary world-class research center on inclusive design Architects Urban planners Engineers Occupational therapists, and more! Research, design services, and consulting to create more inclusive products and environments Housing, home modifications, transportation, community mobility, product design, service design, etc.

WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County AFEC: Domains Outdoor Spaces & Buildings Housing Respect & Social Inclusion Transportation Social Participation Civic Participation & Employment Communication & Information Emergency Preparedness & Resilience Community Support & Health Services

WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County AFEC: Timeline February 2015 ↓County Commissioner signed on ↓Stakeholder meeting ↓Needs Assessment Workshop 125+ in attendance 80+ organizations represented ↓Domain input to survey development ↓Survey development Resident Survey: Access to Information Short Form: Priorities in Our Community Community Partners: Join the network and tell us about your projects! August 2016 ↓Needs Assessment plan finalized Feedback from senior center directors, and Department of Senior Services Advisory Board ↓Survey distribution Promotion via Erie County Senior Services (websites, social media) and help from community partners 30+ outreach events Over 600+ resident surveys completed to date Open through October ↓Community discussions Series of events in partnership with the Pride Center of Western New York

WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County Surveys Go to Erie County Senior Services website and click on “Age Friendly” tab All residents can fill out longer and/or shorter surveys. Organizations please sign up to be in the network and tell us about any and all Age Friendly projects or events you planned or are planning! *Please speak to us after this session or us if you need the survey in an alternate format or would like to complete it orally.*

WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County Next Steps ↓Survey analysis Distribution of results Evidence for development of a plan to address major gaps ↓Collaborative projects to address gaps ↓Continued growth of network ↓Ongoing promotion of efforts ↓Plan for sustainability

WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County Discussion What are some aging-related issues we face here in Erie County? What can we do to address these issues? What Age Friendly projects and/or events are already happening?

WNYIL Summit on Aging & Independence Age Friendly Erie County Thank you! Please complete a short form survey before you go. Contact us. Molly Ranahan Brittany Perez Erie County Senior Services IDeA Center, UB Phone: Phone: