Bethel-Region
Age-Friendly community:
the nation's First REgional initiative
Being a pioneer can be both exciting and frightening. In 2015 the nation’s Age-Friendly movement was young, and the first member communities were forming. In spring of that year a sizeable group of Bethel area community members participated in an animated discussion group around Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal and soon thereafter formed a group to explore ways they could build some of Gawande’s principles into their beloved community. Thus was born the Age-Friendly Community Initiative (AFCI), with the Bethel municipality as its fiscal agent.
They soon realized that perhaps it would be more appropriate to consider “the Bethel area” as a region, as it had been for decades in the school system and most other enterprises. So by 2016 the new AFCI (with almost half of the group from a non-Bethel town) had become the first regional program ever in the United States. AFCI eventually included the six contiguous Oxford County towns of Bethel, Gilead, Greenwood, Hanover, Newry, and Woodstock - an area of 241 square miles!
Needs Assessment
AFCI began their work with community discussion/informational meetings and were guided early on by a standard AFCN strategy, a paper/pencil community survey. Very predictably, this tool revealed that residents appreciated the diversity of their individual towns and the richness and genuineness of the community as a whole. There were, to be sure, several community shortcomings, which the group began addressing with concrete programs.
Communications
Recognizing the importance of a healthy Publicity and Promotions element, the group’s first and enduring focus was the formation of an active Communications Team. Within the first few months, there was an AFCI logo, weekly newspaper columns, information flyers, and a website.
Over the years these publicity practices have been refined and new ones developed: flyers/posters for specific programs, social media, mailings to the area’s over-70-year-olds, a display rack of brochures from area agencies and providers that travels around local sites, a huge banner, rack cards, refrigerator magnets, and a monthly digital newsletter. AFCI was one of the founding members of the Bethel Area Non-profit Collaborative (which, unfortunately, is now defunct, but is showing signs of re-invention); AFCI, meantime, has been a leader in fostering collaborations among area organizations.
Transportation
The number one fear of aging, as suggested by survey respondents (and indeed, across the nation) was trepidation about losing their ability to drive in their advancing years. Accordingly, the group almost immediately began a multipronged approach to solutions, aligning with existing area agencies (which are now defunct) and – more importantly – creating a tightly defined Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) volunteer driver program which drives clients to medical appointments and almost any other semi-local social or education activity.
This program became the group’s primary distinction within the region, and member towns were enthusiastic in their support for AFCI and initiated an almost-voluntary plan of annual town-approved contributions to the AFCI budget. These developments led to the smooth dissolution of the Bethel town fiscal agency and the formation of the Bethel Region Age-Friendly Community non-profit corporation - 501(c)(3).
Personal Fitness
For years AFCI has partnered with Gould Academy and the Bethel Recreation Committee to sponsor winter walking programs, as well as Tai Chi. AFCI collaborated with the local Land Trust when it designed handicap-accessible trails and sponsors the publication and distribution of the Bethel Walking Trails map. Other initiatives (not always sufficiently subscribed) have been falls - prevention classes, such as Matter of Balance and regular swimming get-togethers at a local beach.
Road Safety
The committee worked with the Bethel Highway Department to install stanchions at two crosswalks. on busy Main Street; since they were installed, a noticeable reduction in accidents has occurred.
Resource Directory
As suggested in the survey, a Resource Directory was developed early on, listing a large variety of local and statewide services. In an effort to keep it updated, the directory is available only online and print copies emailed to those who request it and from providers at the health center
Adaptive Tool Kit
Four demonstration kits of adaptive tools were created and are displayed at local events within the six towns, enabling people to see and handle the tools before they bought them. But they did not stop there. One of the kits was designated a loaner and was offered to other towns for demonstration. It traveled as far as Old Orchard Beach!
Personal and Home Safety
In partnership with the Bethel Family Health Center, AFCI made available personal home evaluations for at-risk residents. A local Occupational therapist, paid from a designated AFCI account, visits residents, assessing risk factors in both the home and the resident, and suggesting appropriate, low-cost adaptations to improve in-home safety.
In partnership with local fire departments and the American Red Cross, free smoke detectors have been installed in some homes.
Socialization
AFCI supports and publicizes the numerous local events and activities. A large grant-funded project to offer new socialization opportunities provided benches and picnic tables (many with checkerboards painted on top) as gifts to a number of public sites in the six member towns – all with the donated talents of a local group of craftsmen, a plaque artisan, and the local arts organization with many volunteer painters.
Intergenerational Connections
With close ties to the local high school, AFCI offers a Handy Neighbor Program through which students perform simple outdoor chores.
And the future? ...
AFCI continues to find ways to foster community collaboration in response to the needs of the six communities it represents. It hopes to expand its Handy Neighbor Program and institute a variety of intergenerational opportunities through local public and private educational institutions.
It is currently exploring becoming a real connector, helping community members identify vital services.
In 2021, the Bethel Region Age-Friendly Community Initiative won an AARP Challenge Grant to install decorative wooden benches and picnic tables in well-trafficked areas of their six towns. To complete the project, the team worked in collaboration with the Bethel Congo Crafters, the Bethel Area Arts and Music Program, the Gem Theater, and volunteers of all ages.