Contact: Nancy Davis (agefriendlybethel@gmail.com)
Joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities: 2015-09-15
Structure: Regional 501c3 volunteer board/committee
The Age-Friendly Community Initiative includes 6 AARP NAFSC NETWORK communities:
Age-Friendly Bethel
Age-Friendly Gilead
Age-Friendly Greenwood
Age-Friendly Hanover
Age-Friendly Newry
Age-Friendly Woodstock
Age-Friendly Community Initiative's Programs, Activities, and Accomplishments:
With many age-friendly projects and perspectives already offered in our small community, AFCI considers itself to be a connector, with a strong emphasis on collaborating with other non-profits. These are initiatives started and sustained with AFCI as the lead:
Communication and Information
Along with other print and digital resources, we publish a weekly column in our local newspaper, which includes information about local resources, as well as pertinent resources from national publications.
Housing
With the local high school, we have a collaborative Handy Neighbor Program which provides simple household chores to people over 60.
We hire a licensed Occupational Therapist to perform Home Safety Assessments.
Adaptive tool kit allows people to learn about and try devices to make everyday life a little easier.
Social Participation
We have an over-arching focus on diminishing social isolation in our community. We partner with and support other organizations on activities that bring older adults together:
with the Bethel Rec department, the very popular (and chatty) winter Walk the Gym program
with the local high school and others, Senior Citizen and community dinners
with the Local Food Connection, the monthly Soups On luncheon
Transportation (including promotion of active transportation)
Our singular and signature program is the N2N (Neighbor to Neighbor) Rides program, which serves all 6 of our towns, transporting clients to a wide variety of commitments and activities within the region.
Publication of the Safe Walking Bethel map.