LifePath’s Age- and Dementia-Friendly Project to Launch Regional Needs Assessment Survey

GREENFIELD — The Age-Friendly Communities Initiative led by LifePath is launching a regional needs assessment survey in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region in collaboration with the Franklin Regional Council of Governments and local councils on aging and senior centers.

This survey is the main component of the Age-Friendly Initiative’s needs-assessment process, which will also include focus groups and interviews with older adults. The information collected through this process will be used to create an Age-Friendly Action Plan for the region and apply for grants to improve conditions for older adults.

The Age-Friendly Communities Network is a global initiative that was established by the World Health Organization and is administered in the U.S. by AARP. It has more than 1,200 members worldwide, including more than 600 American towns and cities. The network connects stakeholders in these communities to promote a common vision of making them better places for people as they age by assessing and improving essential services like transportation, housing, and social participation, as well as additional services.

This anonymous survey is open to all elders living in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region, as well as their caregivers. LifePath hopes to receive responses from a wide range of residents from all parts of the region, including elders of color, LGBTQIA+ elders, and people living with disabilities. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

In an effort to make it accessible to as many people as possible, both online and print submissions will be accepted. To fill out the survey online, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/age-friendly-survey. To request a printed copy in the mail, and for any other inquiries, contact Nour Elkhattaby Strauch, Age-Friendly Program manager, at nelkhattabystrauch@lifepathma.org or (413) 829-9274.