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Bethel Age-Friendly Community Initiative (2017) Print
2017 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
The Town of Bethel's Age-Friendly Community Initiative created four displays featuring adaptive tools, as well as a catalog with descriptions of each tools and information about where to buy them. One display has been deployed at community outreach events attended by hundreds of residents. Two others are available for nearby communities to borrow for their own events. A local hardware store provided a home for the third display to make adaptive tools available to Bethel residents. In addition, project organizers engaged an occupational therapist to conduct home assessments to help residents determine their risk of falls. Grant funds also supported the local smoke alarm installation and fire escape plan program, conducted in partnership with local fire departments and the Maine Red Cross, as well as the National Fire Protection Association's Be Safe in Your Home initiative.
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Dalton, GA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
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Tulsa, OK
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
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Seattle, WA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: The project will permanently establish the organization's CAPABLE program, which provides access to occupational therapists and registered nurses who do home assessments and develop a workplan to help older clients continue to live independently.
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Berlin, NH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Transportation Other
Description: This project will involve the purchase of a trailer and equipment for traffic calming pop-ups, promoting safety and walkability in New Hampshire.
Fryeburg, ME
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Trails
Description: Fryeburg's Age-Friendly Community Taskforce created a recreational trail in the Fryeburg Town Forest. Designed to be easily walkable by older adults and those with mobility challenges, the gently sloping, one-mile loop trail features a pedestrian bridge and benches. Over several October days, volunteers cleared a corridor for the Town Forest Trail, cutting and removing brush and small trees and removing boulders to create an opening for the trailhead. Future improvements include two additional bridges, benches and kiosk signage providing details about the trail.
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