HADLEY — Hadley officials are in the midst of working toward making the community both age- and dementia-friendly through a statewide AARP of Massachusetts initiative.
As part of the local effort, which started in July after the Select Board agreed to pursue the designation, surveys seeking input from senior citizens and others are available on the Council on Aging website and in paper form at the Senior Center, Town Hall and Hadley Library.
Select Board member Jane Nevinsmith told her colleagues at a recent meeting that the surveys are a key component of the project.
“We are particularly seeking responses from Hadley residents 60 and over, but would also welcome input from younger people, especially if they are involved with seniors,” Nevinsmith said.
Senior Center Director Hayley Wood said the initiative ensures Hadley becomes a place for aging in place with dignity and security.
The survey will give information about what makes Hadley a good place to live for elders, what some of the challenges are for people as they get older and what needs to be done to refine their ability to live in Hadley with ease.
The letter of commitment to the AARP was sent in July, at the same time that a memorandum of understanding was drafted with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.
That will allow the town to access more than $13,000 of in-kind professional services. funded by a grant from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation.
“With the 2020 completion of the new Hadley Senior Center, we are poised to invite older adults to advocate together for townwide initiatives that make aging in place easier,” reads the letter signed by Town Administrator Carolyn Brennan and Select Board Chairman David J. Fill. “Indeed, the grassroots effort required to persuade Hadley voters of all ages to fund the building of the Senior Center attests to residents’ awareness of the needs of older adults.”
The work on age- and dementia-friendly community comes as the Senior Center and Hadley Library, as well as the North Hadley Fire Substation, were formally dedicated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently with Lt. Gov Karyn Polito that brought out more than 100 residents.
Polito said the projects demonstrate government working on behalf of people and residents understanding the importance of quality of life and helping their neighbors.
“It’s a lot for a small town to accomplish and I would say then that you set an example to other communities that might also have the hope and dream of doing even a piece of what you’ve accomplished today,” Polito said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
