BECOMING THE NEXT AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITY

On April 20, 2021, the City of Gainesville adopted a Resolution to apply for designation as a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. There are nine communities in the Georgia Network.

This Resolution initiated Wisdom Project 2030’s newest project coalition – Gainesville’s Age-Friendly Community - in partnership with the University of North Georgia’s Institute for Healthy Aging, the Gainesville-Hall County Community Service Center, and Legacy Link. 

Wisdom Keepers Pamela Elfenbein, Phillippa Lewis Moss, and Robert Horne researched the concept with AARP representatives and developed the partnership engagement plan before approaching the City of Gainesville about participation. They recognized that Gainesville could build on the solid plans already in place with Vision 2030’s Big Ideas, the Comprehensive Plan for Gainesville-Hall County, and the Gainesville 2030 Community Assessment Strategic Goals and continue to enhance the quality of life for all our residents.

What is an age-friendly community? Designated communities commit to:

• Maintaining the active engagement of older adults in the planning and facilitation processes
• Establish a plan of action that responds to the needs identified by older adults in our community
• Develop a means to measure our activities, reviewing action plan outcomes and plans to determine we are meeting our goals, and
• Keep the public, especially older persons, informed throughout the process.

Gainesville’s Age-Friendly project will start with the formation of work groups to develop age-friendly policies, programs, and services for older adults in our community in coordination with local government goals and initiatives. Efforts will focus on eight domains of livability.

The coalition work groups will first determine the domains for concentration and associated goals. Then they will determine the activities needed to reach the goals, what steps and resources are needed, activity timelines and how to measure progress towards the goals. 

Wisdom Keepers who want to become involved in this coalition and help Gainesville in the journey forward, please contact Pamela Elfenbein at pamela.elfenbein@ung.edu or Phillippa Lewis Moss at pmoss@gainesville.org. As of January, 2022 responsiblity and leadership for the coalition has been moved to the City of Gainesville.