We all know seniors who used to be our neighbors, paying taxes in our towns and contributing to community life, only to be lured away to condos and retirement communities by the prospect of one-floor living and no outside chores or by the appeal of warmer climes.
Some of them raised families in the big, old houses that are such a gracious part of our streetscapes. Some of them were stalwart workers and supporters of community institutions like libraries, senior centers and churches. Some of them were active in town government and local service organizations.
They all contributed institutional knowledge and zeal that is difficult to replace. The result is a gaping hole in our communities.
Towns need residents of all ages and an exodus of seniors is bad news. We can’t change the climate for them, but what if we could take other steps to retain our seniors and keep them in town?
That was the impetus behind a recent workshop put on by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments and LifePath for municipal officials and the interested public. Called “Age-Friendly Community Planning: A Tool for Building Stronger Communities,” the workshop attracted about 70 people to brainstorm how people can age in place — or at least within the towns they have been living in.
Last week’s presentation broadened the concept of seniors’ needs to encompass “age-friendly” ideas in a bid to consider all residents. Everyone will age, and making municipal buildings, parks and all public spaces barrier-free and accessible is welcoming to people of all ages.
“Becoming an age-friendly community is not just a sign at the edge of town,” said Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative Executive Director James Fuccione. “Each community needs to talk about what it means for them.”
Towns already have been grappling with answers to the question, What do seniors want? with some success. One answer is a modern, spacious senior center.
Many towns have responded with new and expanded senior centers. Greenfield has the Jon Zon Community and Senior Center, Erving has a handsome senior center. Bernardston rehabbed the historic Powers Institute for their ground-floor senior center. Ashfield, Buckland and Shelburne are planning an expanded senior center for their residents, probably in the Masonic building where it is now. Other towns face the “chicken or egg” conundrum: Cramped quarters discourage participation, making it harder to justify funding a new senior center.
A second answer is dedicated “neighbors” organizations. Northfield is the latest town to address the needs of seniors based on a nationwide model. Its new “Neighbors at Home” organization already has 52 members who can call on volunteers for assistance with household chores and local transportation, or even putting up the Christmas tree and decorating for the season. Similarly, Village Neighbors serves members in Shutesbury, Leverett, Wendell and New Salem and in Leyden, an informal “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” system lends a hand with transportation and chores.
Fuccione explained the AARP’s Age-Friendly Communities program that towns can join. This requires a vote of the selectboard or mayor and towns need to apply for that status. But it can lead to an action plan, resources and, in many cases, funding. There is no cost to apply for an Age-Friendly Communities designation.
The elephant in the room, however, is senior-friendly housing. Big, old houses with yards, driveways and walkways that have to be mowed, trimmed, plowed and shoveled can come to feel like a millstone around the necks of aging owners. Many of them would prefer to stay in town, but their choices are limited, if not nonexistent. Community housing is one of the approved uses for funds generated by the Community Preservation Act, a property tax surcharge that generates a modest pot of money that the CPA committee can designate in approved ways. For the towns that have approved CPA, this money could be used to help sweeten the pot for housing investors.
According to state statistics, the 65-and-older population is growing and will continue to grow over the next several years. The COG has spearheaded an issue of compelling significance for the towns its serves. It, and LifePath, have started up an important conversation.
“It all starts with talking to each other,” Fuccione said.