GROW SD to host program on age-friendly communities
June 2, 2017
GROW South Dakota will host a program on Age-Friendly Communities at 1 p.m. at the Dakota Events Center, in Aberdeen. The program will provide community and economic development professionals, local government officials, businesses, and other interested parties an overview of the Age-Friendly concept and examples of how various places are making their communities friendly to people of all ages, particularly seniors. The program will be held at the Dakota Event Center in Aberdeen.
GROW SD is promoting Age-Friendly Communities in South Dakota. The concept simply encourages communities to consider both the needs and contributions of the aging in their future planning. Leaders ought to want to make their communities great places to grow up and grow old so that people can age in place, near the people and activities that are important to them. This includes remembering that seniors can be a source of economic growth. The June 14 program will feature an introduction to the topic as well as presentations from several practitioners, including three recipients of related grants in South Dakota.
A representative of the American Association of Retired Persons- South Dakota will speak on the topic, followed by a panel of the other South Dakota grantees in the program funding GROW SD’s work. The panel will feature:
- SDSU Extension: TeachSD is an intergenerational technology program in which Youth Technology Trainers help Adult Learners gain knowledge, confidence, and skills to use the Internet to access resources, connect with family and friends, and maintain independence.
- Lutheran Social Services: The Better Together Program pairs adult volunteers with isolated older adults to provide companionship and resources to help them remain connected to their community. Volunteers spend an average of four hours per month with their matched “Neighbor” for visits, hobbies, and relationship building activities.
- Helpline Center: The Helpline Center is creating an Outreach Support Program to provide emotional and resource support to older adults who are homebound or isolated. The clients will be identified from older adults served by the Meals on Wheels program. A staff person calls the client on a weekly basis over a six-week period.
The Age-Friendly Communities presentation will begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14 at the Dakota Events Center, 720 Lamont Street South, in Aberdeen. Pre-registration is appreciated but not required. Call 605-698-7654 ext. 110 or email star@growsd.org to pre-register.
The program is funded by a grant to GROW SD from Grantmakers in Aging and the South Dakota Community Foundation. GROWSouth Dakota has served South Dakota communities since 1966. The organization excels at providing housing, community, and economic development to 10,000 customers annually. GROW South Dakota consists of three separate private nonprofit agencies. For more information about GROW South Dakota’s housing and business development programs and services, please visit our website at www.growsd.org or call (605) 698-7654.
Article courtesy of the Faulk County Record.