Gilead, Maine Print

Joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network:
1/24/2017

Lead Agency: Bethel Age-Friendly Community Initiative

Volunteers (informal)

Action Plan Download

The Bethel Regional Plan encompasses several towns and communities, with the ultimate goal of improving livability through a regional approach. This plan was developed through a collaboration between the four towns of Bethel, Greenwood, Newry, and Woodstock, along with AARP Maine. To make the plan truly regional, the towns' Age-Friendly Community Initiative distributed surveys to gather input from the largely rural surrounding townships to address service gaps for older residents. As a result, the action plan commits to addressing gaps in transportation, help with intermittent household chores, and the need for a gathering place or community center to combat social isolation.

Action Plan Highlights

  1. Transportation

    Promote pedestrian safety, walkability and transportation access by improving crosswalks, building a two-mile universal access trail and developing a volunteer driving program.

  2. Outdoor Spaces

    Make use of community buildings to host recreational classes and events, creating a so-called "distributed" community center until the community can construct a new, physical building for these programs.

  3. Social Participation

    Launch a morning greeting program, where volunteers make daily phone calls to residents to help them feel secure as they age in place.

Progress Report Download

The Bethel Region Age-Friendly Community Initiative focused its attention on diminishing the effects of social isolation and loneliness on its residents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative rolled out a morning call program, where volunteers check in on local older adults and assist with food delivery. In collaboration with other community non-profit organizations, the initiative operates a free ridesharing program for older adults to help them get around. Walkability and community fitness was also a priority. To make crosswalks safer, the town installed dividers, which resulted in a decrease in traffic accidents. Additionally, the Bethel region completed construction of a two-mile accessible trail. Recreational opportunities include an indoor walking program in the winter and regular Tai Chi classes. Other programming includes digital literacy training. To inform locals about these opportunities, AFCI published a monthly newsletter.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Bethel Age-Friendly Community Initiative (2017)

Bethel, ME

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services

Description: 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.

Gibson Center for Senior Services HomeShare Mount Washington Valley (2019)

North Conway, NH

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019

Project Category: Lifelong housing and accessibility

Description: To help homeowners with extra space in their homes find potential tenants, the Gibson Center created a website. The site features information about homesharing, as well as the option for people looking for rooms to rent to match with those with space to share. Modeled after successful homesharing initiatives in other states, the new homesharing service provides reference screenings and background checks, as well as a guide through New Hampshire's landlord-tenant laws.

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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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]