Age-Friendly Sullivan

Please join Age-Friendly Sullivan on the first Wednesday of every month 9a-10am in the Town Office for project updates and guest speakers —  all are welcome!  Social opportunity begins at 8:30am prior to meeting.

Age-Friendly Sullivan vision:  “A compassionate community of neighbors supporting / welcoming young and aging residents to thrive in a diverse and sustainable Sullivan.” adopted August 1st, 2018

Pathways To Well-Being With Dementia –  a manual of Help, Hope and Inspiration.. Essential information by people living with dementia, care partners and leading dementia specialists.  Ten people living with dementia and four care partners serve as your Guides throughout the manual to inform and inspire you. All are living proactively and productively. You will also gain insights from the many contributors who are dementia specialists or have expertise to share. The manual is not intended to be read from beginning to end but, rather, to be used as a resource and reference to be used as needed.

  2023 League of Women Voters:  Local Guide to Government

Age-Friendly Sullivan vision:  “A compassionate community of neighbors supporting / welcoming young and aging residents to thrive in a diverse and sustainable Sullivan.” 

Sullivan Age Friendly Guide FINAL  Open to see our 2022 Updated Age-Friendly Resource Guide for Sullivan — we are excited to share this info!!!  

ACTIVITIES  & RESOURCES:  

❤️  Bone Builders is a free exercise program designed to prevent & reverse osteoporosis, every Tuesday & Thursday (excluding holidays & snow days) at 10:0am, at the Sullivan Town Office.  Contact Maine Center on Aging RSVP program at 207-262-7926 FMI and application form along with medical clearance form to be completed by your PCP.

❤️  Make new friends and improve your heart-health by Walking Outdoors at the Sullivan Recreation Center, every Monday at 5pm, Tuesday & Thursday at 1pm.  FREE

🌸  COMMUNITY GARDEN is located at the Town Office.  Shared produce will be available through the “Take It or Leave It” table for those in need. 🥦🍅🥬🥒🌶️🫑🥕🧄🧅🥔🍎

📙  Handbook  Maine Legal Services for the Elderly – Elder Rights Handbook

Resources for staying safe at HOME

NEW  HomeFit Guide  Smart ways to make a home comfortable, safe and a great fit for older adults — and people of all ages.

AARP Here To Stay Toolkit  AARP Foundation presents this 80 page Toolkit “Here to Stay: Home Upkeep for All” on how to keep your home safe, affordable & healthy of a lifetime.

Making Room   Housing for a Changing America

 
Age-Friendly Sullivan in the NEWS:

News and Updates

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#AARP Fraud Watch Friday: Scams in the Age of AI

Scammers are adept at manipulating the latest technological advances to commit their crimes. These days it’s happening in the world of artificial intelligence – commonly known as AI.

AI voice cloning is already bringing a new twist to scams that have been around forever. For instance, the grandparent scam calls now can feature the actual voice of the loved one the criminal is impersonating. These tactics are startling, but the ways we protect ourselves haven’t changed.

The first sign of any fraud attempt is when an unexpected contact causes an immediate emotional reaction – often fear, panic, or excitement. Maybe training our brains to disengage when we feel that emotional surge could be the best way to disrupt the criminal act.

#agefriendlysullivan
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#AARP Fraud Watch Friday:  Scams in the Age of AI

Scammers are adept at manipulating the latest technological advances to commit their crimes. These days it’s happening in the world of artificial intelligence – commonly known as AI.

AI voice cloning is already bringing a new twist to scams that have been around forever. For instance, the grandparent scam calls now can feature the actual voice of the loved one the criminal is impersonating. These tactics are startling, but the ways we protect ourselves haven’t changed.

The first sign of any fraud attempt is when an unexpected contact causes an immediate emotional reaction – often fear, panic, or excitement. Maybe training our brains to disengage when we feel that emotional surge could be the best way to disrupt the criminal act.

#agefriendlysullivan

Town Crier: Age-Friendly Sullivan ... See MoreSee Less

Town Crier:  Age-Friendly Sullivan

Thank you Lynn Dunbar and Brandi Schunk and Rita Boutaugh, for capturing snapshots of our community gathering to honor our own. A multitude of photos are on Town of Sullivan, Maine FB page and website for your viewing pleasure. Thank you to our wonderful bakers for cookies, brownies and red, white, & blue Whoppie pies and a special appreciation for all participants in this year’s program. We ❤️🤍💙 you all! ... See MoreSee Less

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Such a wonderful event! Thank you all who helped put this on, and all who attended. = )

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Minutes and Meeting notes:

 

 

WHY Sullivan joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities?

Between 2000 and 2010, the US Census reports that Sullivan’s population increased by 4.3%, yet our population of residents 65 or older increased by 12.2%.  In those 10 years, our median age went from 38.4 years old to 44.7 years old, an increase of 6.3 years!  In 2010, our seniors comprised 14.1% of Sullivan’s population.  It is projected that seniors will be 25% of our community by the year 2025.  How can we keep them safely thriving at home?

The purpose of the AARP Age-Friendly Communities is to serve as a catalyst to educate, encourage, promote, and recognize improvements that will make Sullivan more supportive not only of our older residents, but for residents of all ages.  The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified eight domains as influencing the health and quality of life of older adults (see details below).

The 8 Domains of Creating a Livable Community for all ages

  1. Outdoor spaces and buildings:  Outdoor spaces, such as parks and buildings affect the independence and quality of life of residents of all ages, but especially older adults.  Some Maine communities have made parks more accessible by increasing the width of paths and adding benches.  Others have increased the number of designated parking spaces near key services and added accessible features to municipally-owned buildings.
  2. Transportation:  Affordable and accessible public and volunteer transportation programs is key to aging in place safely and independently.  Some communities have created transportation resource guides that include information about public and private options.  Others have created volunteer programs that provide rides to where people need to go and may offer help with, for example, shopping or getting in and out of a building.
  3. Housing:  Safe and affordable housing promotes well-being and is key to older residents being able to age comfortably and safely in the house and community of their choice.  Communities can make regulatory changes to encourage additional housing options or to help create new housing.  Some initiatives have started their own “Handy Brigade”, others have partnered with existing services to increase awareness of home modification and home maintenance services.
  4. Social participation:  Socializing with friends and neighbors who don’t live in the same home as you is connected to physical and cognitive health.  Many communities have started a “senior” center or added to the opportunities available.  Others have partnered with local organizations such as lifelong learning programs, an art center, or a library to increase programming for adults.
  5. Respect and social inclusion:  A lack of contact between generations and lack of knowledge about aging are two reasons why stereotypes that exclude older people from full participation in the community continue.  Aging adults who feel welcomed and respected for their contribution are more likely to remain actively engaged in economic, social, and civic life than those who do not feel included.
  6. Civic participation and employment:  Older people do not stop contributing to their communities when they turn 65 or 85 or 105. An age-friendly community provides opportunities for residents who want to or need to work past traditional retirement age and encourages people of all ages to volunteer and participate in the political process.
  7. Communication and information:  Staying connected with activities, resources, and people is key to optimal aging.  Some communities have created information portals on their town website to increase access to information about local activities and resources making them easy to find.  Other communities have created resource manuals.
  8. Community support and health services:  Access to health care and services to support aging in place is key for the health and well-being of older residents.  Some communities have emphasized food security in this area.  Others have looked at elder abuse prevention or added disaster preparedness.

WHO checklist  Checklist of Essential Features of Age-friendly features is a tool for a community’s self-assessment and a map for charting progress.  In assessing a city’s strengths and deficiencies, older people will describe how their checklist of features matches their own experience of positive characteristics and barriers.  They should play a role in suggesting changes in implementing and monitoring improvements.

STEP 1:  ENTERING THE NETWORK:  We have been accepted!  Sullivan is the 46th community in Maine, and the 204th community in the United States to join the Network of Age-Friendly Communities!

  1. Certificate #204  Age-Friendly Sullivan Enrollment Certificate of membership through 2020
  2. Welcome Letter AARP Network of Age Friendly Communities Welcome Letter
  3. AFS AARP Maine Benefits  Single page summary of membership benefits

STEP 2:  PLANNING PHASE (years 1-2)

  1. A baseline assessment of the age-friendliness of Sullivan:  2018 Survey summary
  2. Development of a 3-year community-wide plan of action based on assessment findings:  AFS Action Plan 2020

STEP 3:  IMPLEMENTATION & EVALUATION (years 3-5):  On completion of the planning phase, and no later than two years after joining the AARP Network, Sullivan will submit our action plan to WHO for review and endorsement.  Upon endorsement by WHO, cities will then have a three-year period of implementation.  At the end of the period of implementation, Sullivan will be required to submit a progress report to WHO outlining progress against indicators developed in our Action Plan:  Age-Friendly Sullivan 5 year progress report 2023

 

Photo credits, this page. Bottom photo: © Paul Breeden;  All Rights Reserved.