News and Updates

Minutes and Meeting notes:

• 1.04.23 AFS Minutes.  No guest speaker; Community updates & discussions
• 12.07.22 AFS Minutes Colt Neidhardt, Schoodic Arts for All
• 11.02.22 AFS Minutes. TED Talk – Dr. Lisa Genova:  How your memory works and why forgetting is totally OK
• 10.05.22 AFS Minutes Ander Thebaud, Director, RSU24 Adult & Community Education
• 9.07.22 AFS Minutes, Chief Michael Pinkham II
• 8.03.22 AFS Minutes, Bob Phillips, former President of Wyman Blueberries Inc
• 6.01.22 AFS Minutes. Al May, Maine CDC and Andrew Sankey, Hancock EMA
• 5.04.22 AFS Minutes  Alice Noyes, President Friends of Taunton Bay
• 4.06.22 AFS Minutes   PDF DRAFT Sullivan Municipal EOP  Disaster Planning and Emergency Operations Planning
• 3.02.22 AFS Minutes. Social Participation, Respect & Social Inclusion
• Sullivan Business 3.2.22. List of Sullivan Businesses & Businesses owned by Sullivan residents for Welcome to Sullivan totes
• 2.2.22 AFS minutes  Alzheimer’s of Maine Presentation on 10 Warning Signs
• 1.05.22 AFS minutes 2022 Planning Meeting
• 11.03.21 AFS Minutes PDF. Presentation by Mary Jane Bush, Bucksport on accessibility
  • Show You Care Brochure Final Proof
  • Brochure HOLD ON Final Draft
• 10.06.21 AFS Minutes PDF  Presentation by Allie Nolan Budge, MDI/Ellsworth Housing Authority
• 9.01.21 AFS MINUTES PDF  Age-Friendly Sullivan meeting with Jo Cooper, Friends in Action, shared updates on their agency and activities.
• 3.25.20 to 8.30.20:  Weekly online check-in ZOOM meetings held at 9am, no Agenda, connection info posted on Facebook.  In 2020, we moved to monthly online meetings with guest speakers.  In 2021, we resumed in-person meetings with agendas and guest presentations.
• 2018, 2019 & 2020 AFS minutes are available upon request

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.