Bath, Maine Print

Joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network:
8/1/2018

Lead Agency: Age-Friendly Communities of the Lower Kennebec (AFCLK)

Coalition

Action Plan Download

An action plan is based on the results of community surveys identifying needs within the 8 Domains of Livability that influence the health and quality of life of older adults. While there is flexibility in how a plan is created and what it will do, every action plan includes a statement about what can be achieved, target dates for goal completion, identification of participating organizations and indicators to measure progress. The action plan is an "active" rather than static document. Revisions and amendments are a sign of program improvement and progress.

Action Plan Highlights

  1. Housing

    Create additional safety measures for older adults living alone by investigating a 'knox box' program for emergency responders to gain easy access to homes via key in coded, locked exterior box.

  2. Civic Participation and Employment

    Create an age-friendly business certifiation program.

  3. Outdoor Spaces

    Expand outdoor infrastructure for older adults including 'friendship benches" and mixed-age playgrounds.

Progress Report Download

Working in collaboration with other communities in Maine's Lower Kennebec region, the City of Bath celebrated successes related to housing diversity, transportation access and welcoming public spaces in its age-friendly progress report. The City updated its zoning code to allow accessory dwelling units for some homeowners. Alongside the change, the City published a toolkit on the housing type. To help older adults get around, the community expanded its volunteer driver program. The City also helped to invite residents to spend time outdoors -- especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this, the City added chess and checkers tables, as well as lawn games, to public spaces. An inventory of the community's benches also reflected Bath's commitment to accessible outdoor spaces.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Advisory Committee on Aging (2017)

Bowdoinham, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Community Gardens

Description: The Town of Bowdoinham provided elevated planters to six residents who, because of disabilities, could not maintain traditional, in-the-ground gardens. Members of the local Masons Lodge constructed the raised beds and delivered soil to each recipient. To showcase the planters, the Town hosted a community meal featuring local produce, which included a presentation about the benefits of raised beds. In addition, the Town founded a garden club, which meets monthly.

Town of Bowdoinham (2023)

Bowdoinham, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Lifelong housing and accessibility

Description: The town will develop a plain language guide promoting the use of Universal Design as an approach to more inclusive, safe and accessible housing for people of all ages and abilities.

ABOUT THE AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE

Launched in 2017, the annual AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to local governments and nonprofits in order to fund quick-action, ready-to-implement projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages.

See all nearby projects

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Connect with your AARP State Office

AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

AARP Maine State Office

53 Baxter Boulevard
Suite 202
Portland, ME 04101
United States

Phone: 866-554-5380
Fax: 207-775-5727
Email: [email protected]