Age Friendly Berkshires Newsletter

A great place to grow up and a great place to grow old!

Hello Friends and Neighbors!

Age Friendly Berkshires' Mission - To create a more livable Berkshire County for people of all ages, with a focus on the needs of an aging population.

Age Friendly Berkshires is generously sponsored by:

In case you were unable to attend our Video Premiere & Annual Gathering 2019 on June 24th at Berkshire Community College, here's a link to some fantastic news coverage from Andy McKeever at iBerkshires: https://www.iberkshires.com/story/60232/. We couldn't have summarized the event better!

And if you'd like to share our wonderful video and message on your website, or send to colleagues, friends or neighbors, here's the link on Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2KMpDb45yM.

We would like to say "THANK YOU VERY MUCH" to our generous sponsors and community partners, for making fiscal year 2018-2019 the year of building

M O M E N T U M for our movement! We couldn't DO Age friendly without YOU!

Upcoming Events & News

OLLI University Day: Living Longer, Living Better: Changing the Culture of Aging in Berkshire County -- Thursday, August 15, 2019 - 9:30-3:30 p.m.

Age Friendly Berkshires is co-sponsoring OLLI's UNIVERSITY DAY 2019 - A day of learning and thought-provoking discussions around "Aging in Place". This year's event kicks off with a talk by anti-ageism advocate Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism. Morning and afternoon panel discussions with various themes related to Aging in Place - making social connections, volunteering and civic participation, healthcare for a lifetime and more! Delicious luncheon will feature roundtable panel discussions with plenty of time for Q&A. The day will be capped off by a performance by VOICES spoken word ensemble. To join us at University Day, register at berkshireolli.org or call 413-236-2190. Current OLLI Members $40/Non-Members $55...You don't want to miss this one!

Dementia Friendly Berkshires

Straight Talk About Dementia - Tuesday, July 30, 2019, 5-6:30 p.m. at Home Instead Senior Care, 66 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Memory problems can have many causes! Learn the facts (and dispel the fictions) about the different types of Dementia. Having good information is better than feeling afraid. Find out about risk factors that may lead to Alzheimer's Disease, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options and what might help to prevent or slow progression. You'll be among caring practitioners and friends....To register, call Bobbie at 413-442-0907 or email bobbie@homeinstead.com.

Age Friendly Berkshires is an open, collaborative movement of individuals, non-profits, foundations, businesses, municipal governments and elected officials, working to improve 8 Areas of Livability in Berkshire County. Most of the work found in the Age Friendly Berkshires Action Plan is being implemented collectively through our partnerships. We seek to innovate new and better ways to live, work, play and stay in Berkshire County.

The AFB Task Force is OPEN TO ALL who wish to help improve the experience of aging. PLEASE join us! Call 413-442-1521 x16 or email: agefriendlyberkshires@gmail.com.

8 AREAS OF LIVABILITY

This is the "Progress Report and Important News" section of our Newsletter, following the 8 Areas of Livability that are the focus of the AFB Action Plan. If you'd like more information, email us atagefriendlyberkshires@gmail.com or message us via our website agefriendlyberkshires.com.

Social Participation & Civic Engagement: Age Friendly Berkshires Task Force members are working to develop a 50+ Volunteer event - Berkshire Serves, to coincide with International Volunteer Day 2019 (Thursday, December 5th - weather permitting!) The Volunteer Get-Together will highlight the good work that Berkshire non-profits and municipal boards and committees are doing, and provide a comfortable meeting place for people to find the right volunteer opportunities, aligned with their values, time and talents. To volunteer (!) to help put the event together, please contact AFB at 413 442 1521 x16.

Outdoor Spaces & Buildings: Are your community's facilities and buildings accessible for people living with disabilities? Age Friendly Berkshires supports community efforts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Let us help your town create accessible buildings and outdoor spaces. The MA Office on Disabilities can help with a planning grant to create or update your ADA Self-Evaluation & Transition Plan, see https://www.mass.gov/municipal-americans-with-disabilities-act-grant.

For more information, see our flyer: http://agefriendlyberkshires.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ADA_Transition_Plan_Fact_Sheet_03.11.2019.pdf.

Transportation: BRTA Mobility Manager on Call -- Berkshire Regional Transit Authority (BRTA) has a Travel Training vehicle to help you, or your community group to navigate the BRTA bus service and access the Charlie Card program. The Travel Trainer visits both Great Barrington and North Adams Town Halls on alternate Wednesdays in July from 11:00-2:00. If you'd like the Travel Training vehicle to visit your location, please contact the BRTA at (413) 499-2782.

Our mailing address is:

Age Friendly Berkshires

c/o Berkshires Tomorrow Inc.

1 Fenn St #201,

Pittsfield, MA 01201

agefriendlyberkshires@gmail.com