During their regular meeting on Thursday, the Board of County Commissioners received an update on the Age-Friendly Multnomah County effort from representatives from Multnomah County Aging, Disability and Veterans Services, Portland State University’s Institute on Aging and AARP Oregon.
As the presenters took their seats, Commissioner Judy Shiprack explained that back in October 2014 the board approved an action that allowed Multnomah County to apply for membership to the World Health Organization (WHO) and AARP Networks for Age-Friendly Communities.
“Spoiler alert: the outcome of the application was positive,” said Shiprack.
Multnomah County was named as an Age-Friendly Community, the first county in Oregon to join the network. The city of Portland and Springfield were also named.
Age-Friendly Communities is a worldwide effort to highlight the factors that contribute to the well-being and health of older adults. The WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly Communities is currently made up of more than 258 cities in 28 countries.
“An Age-Friendly Community builds on the strengths of older adults. It is enabling, it’s inclusive, it’s equitable,” said Dr. Margaret Neal of Portland State University’s Institute on Aging at Thursday’s board meeting. “An Age-Friendly city is one that’s friendly for people of all ages, not just elder-friendly.”
Being accepted into Age-Friendly Communities global network is just one of the steps Multnomah County is taking in becoming more age-friendly.
To gain greater insight into how to serve the needs of older county residents, Multnomah County’s Office of Citizen Involvement held community forums to hear directly from the public in July of 2014 and March of 2015. AARP Oregon held similar forums.
“It was a really wonderful opportunity to hear from county residents what they’re thinking,” said Bandana Shrethsa, community engagement director of AARP Oregon.
“Issues that people identified were issues of affordable and accessible housing, health and services to help people remain independent,” Shrethsa told the board on Thursday. “We heard a lot about transportation, about pedestrian safety, about mobility options and about a desire for intergenerational connections.”
The county is also looking to its own workforce to find out how departments are planning for an aging population and to inform the development of a Multnomah County Age-Friendly Community Action Plan.
Rebecca Miller of Multnomah County Aging, Disability and Veterans Services told the board that when staff from across county departments came together to discuss the topic, several needs emerged, including:
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Removing barriers to services in underserved populations, including people with limited English proficiency, members of the LGBTQ community and those with low-incomes.
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Promoting health and wellness initiatives that emphasize prevention.
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Creating accessible housing opportunities.
Commissioner Loretta Smith commended Thursday’s presenters on their work.
“It’s so gratifying to see that Multnomah County and our partners and our friends in the community have made such important investment,” said Smith.
Commissioner Shiprack echoed that sentiment and stressed the importance viewing all residents, regardless of age, as contributors to the good of the community.
“Age-friendliness - it applies to all ages,” said Shiprack. “It not just about needs and services, it‘s about assets and how to engage those assets into an active role in the community.”
