Pitkin County Senior Services is in the process of updating its Aging Well Community Plan, the blueprint for community action around “empowered aging” and an age-friendly community.
Pitkin County is reaching out to the community for input on the plan revisions, which are designed to inform decision-making on housing, transportation, accessibility to health care, civic and social engagement opportunities, employment, and adequate health care and community services that are among AARP’s “Eight Domains of Livability.”
“We want the updated plan to help guide our community to be more “age-friendly” and not just focused on our older adult population,” said Pitkin County Senior Services Manager, Chad Federwitz. “We in the ageing well business like to say ‘What’s good for an 8-year-old can also be good for an 80-year-old. This could be better crosswalks, well-lit parks, accessible health care, which are all ‘age-friendly’ enhancements for everyone,” Federwitz said.
Aspen's older adults aging well at the annual Senior Ski Day on Aspen Mountain.
Since it was first implemented in 2014, Pitkin County’s Aging Well Initiative has received state, national and international attention. In 2017 AARP and the World Health Organization recognized Pitkin County as an “Age-Friendly and Livable Community.” In September of 2018, then-Governor Hickenlooper created the Lifelong Colorado Initiative and Colorado became the third state in the nation to receive designation as an age-friendly state.
“Governor Hickenlooper helped add to the momentum needed in this community and across the state to continue to break down age bias and other barriers that impact our ability towards “empowered aging,” Federwitz said. “Pitkin County is certainly somewhat age-friendly, but we have a long way to go in this community to break down age bias and other barriers that impact our ability to be empowered around aging here,”
Several Aging Well Plan community input events are scheduled in May:
Tuesday, May 7 Pitkin County Library (Part I)
Tuesday, May 14 Pitkin County Library (Part II)
Wednesday, May 8 Basalt Regional Library (Part I)
Wednesday, May15 Basalt Regional Library (Part II)
Each event is from 9:30 – 1:30. Lunch is provided if you RSVP (970) 920-5432.
There is also the opportunity to provide feedback on the plan online at www.pitkincountyconnect.com.
Community input will guide the final version of the Aging Well Plan presented in late summer to the Pitkin County Board of Commissioners, Aspen City Council, Snowmass Village Town Council and the Basalt Town Council for adoption and implementation.
MEDIA CONTACT: Chad Federwitz, Pitkin County Senior Services Manager - 970-429-2861