WHO Age Friendly City Transportation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed features that can make your city a place where seniors want to grow old. Transportation is seen as an important part of a persons daily life.

Public transportation costs are consistent, clearly displayed, and affordable.

Public transportation is reliable and frequent, including at night, on weekends and holidays.

All city areas and services are accessible by public transport, with good connections and well maintained routes and vehicles.

City planners understand the idea of door to door transport for seniors with extra needs.

Vehicles are clean, well maintained, accessible, not over crowded and have priority seating that is respected.

Specialized transportation is available for disabled persons.

Drivers stop at designated stops and beside the curb to facilitate boarding and wait for passengers to be seated before driving off.

Transport stops and stations are conveniently located, accessible, safe, clean, well lit and well marked, with adequate seating and shelter.

Complete and accessible information is provided to users about routes, schedules and special needs facilities.

A voluntary transport service is available when public transportation is too limited.

Taxis are accessible and affordable, and drivers are courteous and helpful.

Roads are well maintained with covered drains and good lighting.

Traffic flow is well regulated.

Roadways are free of obstructions that block drivers vision.

Traffic signs and intersections are visible and well placed.

Driver education and refresher courses are available at little of no cost for all drivers.

Parking and drop off areas are safe, sufficient in number, and conveniently located.

Priority parking and drop off spots for people with special needs are available and respected.

Home Care Path http://www.homecarepath.com/ is a leading provider of senior care services in south central Wisconsin. Choose from our elder care services:
-in home staffing for seniors
-inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-transitional counseling when more structured service is needed
-down sizing home contents when stuff matters
-help to pack and ship with gift giving season
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule and in home interview. 2011 rates are 20.00 per hour. Email seniorcare@homecarepath.com Valueing home and human life!

WHO Age Friendly Outdoor Spaces and Buildings

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified essential features for an age friendly city. The essential features for outdoor spaces and buildings include:

Public areas are clean and pleasant

Green spaces and outdoor seating are sufficient in number, well maintained and safe.

Pavements are well maintained, free of obstructions and reserved for pedestrians.

Pavements are non-slip, are wide enough for wheel chairs and have dropped curbs to road level.

Pedestrian crossings are sufficient in number and safe for people with different levels and types of disability, with non-slip markings, visual and audio cues and adequate crossing times.

Drivers give way to pedestrians at intersections and pedestrian crossings.

Cycle paths are separate from pavements and other pedestrian walk ways.

Outdoor safety is promoted by good street lighting, police patrols, and community education.

Services are situated together and accessible.

Special customer service arrangements are provided, such as separate queues (waiting lines) or service counters for older persons.

Buildings are well signed outside and inside, with sufficient seating and toilets, accessible elevators, ramps, railings, stairs and non-slip floors.

Public toilets outdoors and indoors are sufficient in number, clean, well maintained and accessible.

One can see where city money will be invested in a public works staff to help maintain the outdoor spaces and buildings. Older individuals can spend more time per trip to the bathroom. Encouraging private business to provide and maintain adequate bathroom facilites. Seniors take more time crossing the street. Providing adequate stop light time will lengthen a motorists commute time. These features help an aging individual live independently and contribute to the community as long as possible.

Home Care Path http://www.homecarepath.com/ a leading provider of senior care services in south central Wisconsin. Choose from our menu of service:

In home staffing for seniors

Inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays

Transitional counseling when more structured service is needed

Downsizing home contents when stuff matters

Help to pack and ship with gift giving season

Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule and in home interview. Or email seniorcare@homecarepath.com valueing home and human life!

Arts Culture Leisure Livable Communities MetLife Foundation

Partners for livable communities in cooperation with the MetLife Foundation have identified 11 core components planners can focus on to make their city a place where seniors want to grow old. The 11th core component is Arts, Culture, and Leisure.

Seniors assist planners to facilitate the structure to support museum like experiences.

Cultural organizations provide discounts to older residents.

Art museum organizations support outreach programs to engage older adults.

Art and cultural organizations partner with both public and private providers with the focus on inclusion of community elders.

Art and cultural opportunities provide experiences that include the ethnic diversity of the population.

Museums are accessible and comfortable for older residents.

Communities have a responsibility to connect with the wisdom and experience of older adults. With the maturing of the community expect to see an increase in the number of museum like experiences, that were popular in the 1950's-60's. Home Care Path http://www.homecarepath/ is a leading provider of elder care service in south central Wisconsin. Choose from our senior care services:
-in home staffing for seniors
-inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-transitional counseling when more structured service is needed
-downsizing home contents when stuff matters
-help to pack and ship with gift giving season

Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview. Email us at seniorcare@homecarepath.com Valueing home and human life.

Local Leadership Policies MetLife Foundation Livable Communities

Partners for livable communities in cooperation with the MetLife Foundation have identified 11 core components planners can consider to make their town a place where seniors want to grow old. Core component number 10 is Local Leadership and Policies:

Local leadership strives to promote interaction between all generations

Local leadership understands that universal design concepts not only aide a specific demographic, but the community as a whole.

The local government acts as a advocate and catalyst for developing partnerships, new programs and systems to engage older adults

Local leadership actively harnesses the talent, wisdom and experience of older adults to contribute to the community at large.

The focus is consistently on connections. Planning for the maturing of the community involves facilitating the programs that involve both public and private participants in a structure that supports the ability of elders to live independently and contribute to the community for as long as possible.

Home Care Path www.homecarepath.com is a leading senior care provider serving south central Wisconsin. Choose from our elder care services:
-in home staffing for seniors
-inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
-transitional counseling when more structured service is needed
-downsizing home contents when stuff matters
-help to pack and ship with gift giving season
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule and in home interview. 2011 rates are 20.00 per hour. Email seniorcare@homecarepath.com Valueing home and human life!

Design and Planning MetLife Foundation Livable Communities

Partners for livable communities with the cooperation of the MetLife Foundation have identifed 11 core components planners can focus on to make their city a place where seniors want to grow old. Number 9 is Design and Planning.

Zoning requirements, subdivision regulations or building codes promote a variety of senior housing options.

Planners understand how to develop supporting regulation for shared housing, accessorized apartments, assisted living, temporary housing.

Community design and zoning requirements promote development and design standards that facilitate the infrastructure and business model to accomidate a walking population.

Plans are in place to ensure land use patterns, transportation routes, and community facilitities meet the needs of an aging population.

Universal design elements and materials are available for new and upgraded housing.

Home Care Path http://www.homecarepath.com/ coordinates elder home care assistants who help the senior with meals, grocery shopping, bath set up, memory loss, dressing, medication reminders, reading and sorting mail, scheduled toileting, plant care, garbage out, pet care and more. Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview. Email us at seniorcare@homecarepath.com Valueing home and human life!

Aging and Human Services Partners For Livable Communities

Partners for livable communities in cooperation with the MetLife Foundation have identified 11 core components planners can focus on to make their city a place where people want to grow old. The 8th core component is Aging and Human Services. Planners should consider:

A single entry point for access to both public and private services.

There is affordable in home support services (http://www.homecarepath.com/) that enable older adults to live independently.

Independent transitional counseling service is available to come to the seniors home when a more structured service is needed .

An inpatient advocate is available for hospital treaments and procedures that require over night stay.

Local government, public social and health services, and private area aging organizations meet on a regular basis.

Law enforcement and city employees are familiar with available community resources that serve seniors.

Elected officials facilitate business models that assist seniors to live independently and continue to contribute to their community.

Home Care Path http://www.homecarepath.com/ a leading senior care service in south central Wisconsin. Choose from:
In home staffing for elders
Inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
Transitional counseling when a more structured service is needed
Downsizing home contents when stuff matters
Help to pack and ship with gift giving season
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview. Valueing home and human life.

Civic Engagement and Volunteer Opportunities Aging In Place

Partners for livable communities in cooperation with the MetLife Foundation have identified 11 core components planners can focus on to make their town a place where seniors want to grow old. Part of the maturing of communities is to create oppportunity for older adults to live independently and contribute to the community as long as possible. The 7th core component is Civic engagement and volunteer opportunites.

Meaningful volunteer opportunities for older adults are available

Area chamber of commerce hosts an elder board who assist with steering and history

Intergenerational volunteer opportunities are available

Seniors serve on city counsel as alder persons

Parade committees host a senior board

Seniors serve on over sight committees created to participate in ongoing city planning

Home Care Path http://www.homecarepath.com/ coordinates staff who come in to the seniors home and help with meals, grocery shopping, medication reminders, bath set up, dressing, scheduled toileting, garbage out, plant care, sorting mail, pet care and more. 2011 rates are 20.00 per hour. Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview. Or email seniorcare@homecarepath.com Valueing home and human life!

MetLife Foundation Partners for Livable Communities Lifelong Learning

Partners for Livable Communities in cooperation with the MetLife Foundation have identified 11 core compenents planners can focus on to make their city a place where seniors would want to grow old. The 6th core component is workforce development and life long learning:

Job retraining opportunities are available and accessible to older adults

Employers offer flexible employment options for older adults

Job banks help connect older adults with appropriate employment

Discounts are available for older adults who wish to take classes at local colleges and universities

Community colleges host the classes that result in degree completion

Bilingual classes are offerred for non English speaking older adults

Home Care Path http://www.homecarepath.com/ is a leading south central Wisconsin provider of senior care services. Choose from our elder care services:

In home staffing for seniors
Inpatient advocacy for safe successful hospital stays
Transitional counseling when more structured service is needed
Downsizing home contents when stuff matters
Help to pack and ship with gift giving season.
Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule and in home interview. Or email us at seniorcare@homecarepath.com Valueing home and human life!

Finance Services MetLife Foundation Partners For Livable Communities

Partners For Livable Communities in cooperation with the MetLife Foundation have identified 11 core components planners can focus on to make their city a place where people want to grow old. The 5th core component is Finance Service:

Tax relief for older adults with limited incomes

Education and information about financial fraud and predatory lending is provided.

Local counselors are available to advocate on legal issues, an example would be a city is planning to invest in a large senior housing complex and begins condemning neighborhood dwellings to help boost tenant numbers.

Discount options for an array of public services are available.

Consistent legal assistance with denied insurance claims.

Advocacy with procuring money invested in financial vehicles , this allows the senior to receive their money and invest it with local business.

Home Care Path http://www.homecarepath.com/ coordinates elder home care assistants who help the senior with meals, grocery shopping, bath set up, dressing, plant care, medication reminders, garbage out, scheduled toileting, pet care and more. 2011 rates are 20.00 per hour. Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview. Temporary respite care is available to help ease the stress of primary care givers. Email seniorcare@homecarepath.com valueing home and human life!

Housing Partners For Livable Communities MetLife Foundation

Partners For Livable Communities in cooperation with the MetLife Foundation have listing 11 core components planners should consider to make their city a place people want to grow old. Housing is the 4th component:

Studies indicate seniors perfer to live in their own home for as long as possible. Bringing the service to the senior seems to provide the greater quality of life.

A wide variety of housing choices should be available.

Home maintenance and repair assistance is available to seniors.

General services such as trash collection, are modified to better serve seniors.

Subsidized housing facilites are available and accessible.

Flexible housing codes that accomidate the elders needs are promoted.

Community facilitates the inclusion of multiple home maintenance services, such as private lawn care, snow removal, roofing, siding, stair and deck repair.

Home Care Path http://www.homecarepath.com/ coordinates elder in home care staff who assist the senior with meals, grocery shopping, bath set up, dressing, memory loss, medication reminders, plant care, scheduled toileting, laundry, pet care and more. 2011 rates are 20.00 per hour. Simply call 608-432-4286 to schedule an in home interview. Or email seniorcare@homecarepath.com Serving south central Wisconsin. Valueing home and human life.