Pawtucket Announces New Initiative to Create an Age-Friendly Community – Herb Weiss

By Herb Weiss, contributing writer, aging issues

Over a year ago, Mayor Donald R. Grebien officially signed a resolution, marking the beginning of an important process. The signing ceremony, held on September 16, 2024, in the City Council Chambers, was attended by local leaders, community advocates, state officials, and members of the Pawtucket Senior Citizens Council.

The resolution to join the nation’s Age-Friendly network was approved by the City Council after being in development for more than six years. It highlights Pawtucket’s commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for residents of all ages, from the very young to the elderly.

The Age-Friendly network helps participating communities engage with older adults and their caregivers through surveys and assessments. Based on the feedback received, communities develop action plans to enhance livability for all ages by adopting features such as safe, walkable streets, better housing and transportation options, access to key services, and opportunities for civic and community participation.

The initiative is built around the World Health Organization’s (WHO) report, Global Age-Friendly communities: A Guide in 2017, offering municipalities an action plan, identifying eight “domains for living”  to create more welcoming communities for older adults.  These domains are implemented and assessed in three phases over five years, with continuous cycles of improvement thereafter. The domains are:

1. Outdoor spaces and buildings
2. Transportation
3. Housing
4. Social participation
5. Respect and social inclusion
6. Civic participation and employment
7. Communication and information
8. Community support and health services

AARP launched its U.S. Age-Friendly Network in 2012. By 2014, New York City became the first U.S. city to join the WHO Age-Friendly Cities network. By 2017, Rhode Island became the first U.S. state to officially adopt the Age-Friendly Communities framework. In 2025, AARP will commemorate the 1,000th U.S. municipality joining the Age-Friendly Network, marking a significant milestone in the movement to make communities more welcoming for older adults.”

Pawtucket’s effort involves a large-scale collaboration between the Mayor’s Office, the Leon Mathieu Senior Center, other city departments, Age-Friendly Rhode Island, the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), and various local organizations. Together, they will oversee data collection and the creation of an Age-Friendly blueprint for action.

Pawtucket Becomes Official 

Last week, Mayor Grebien, along with members of the City’s Age-Friendly Task Force and AARP Rhode Island, formally announced Pawtucket’s efforts to join over 1,000 communities in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Globally, over 1,500 cities and towns across more than 51 countries have joined the WHO Age‑Friendly network, illustrating the reach of this movement.

With the kickoff of the press conference, Pawtucket joined other Rhode Island cities—Newport, Cranston, Providence, Westerly, and Bristol—in this growing initiative.

Mary Lou Moran, Director of the Leon Mathieu Senior Center and Pawtucket Senior Services, served as master of ceremonies. She welcomed over 90 attendees and introduced the initiative, “Age-Friendly Pawtucket: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future,” along with a panel of speakers.

“This is an exciting day as the city commits to addressing aging across the lifespan and ensuring we provide appropriate services, support systems, and opportunities for families and caregivers,” said Moran.

A key component of the press conference was the launch of a community needs assessment and survey, designed to gather direct input from residents to help guide the development of the action plan. Moran encouraged attendees, especially older residents, to participate in the survey. “We need your input to help us build a community that promotes health and wellness for all ages,” she said.

Catherine Taylor, State Director of AARP Rhode Island, explained the core philosophy behind the Age-Friendly movement: “If you make a city great for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old, you make it great for everyone. That’s the age-friendly lens Pawtucket is using.”

AARP Rhode Island President Elizabeth Howlett, former Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, emphasized the importance of volunteerism and the role of community members in the survey process.

James Connell, Executive Director of Age-Friendly Rhode Island, noted that the aging population in Pawtucket and across Rhode Island was a major driver for embracing this initiative. “Rhode Island is one of the few states where there are more people age 65 and older than under 20,” he said. “This is something to celebrate. It’s an opportunity to assess needs, meet challenges, and create goals and visions for healthy aging.”

Beth Roberge, President of the Pawtucket Senior Citizens Council, shared a personal perspective on aging while advocating for the initiative: “Life doesn’t end when you reach a certain age. It’s just another stepping stone.”

Jeanne Cola, LISC’s Executive Director, called for Pawtucket’s older residents to participate in the survey, stressing that the data collected would drive the city’s planning and policies, rather than relying on assumptions. “Let your voice be heard. If you don’t participate, you don’t get what you want,” she said.

Mayor Grebien closed the event with a light-hearted remark: “Now that I’ve turned 58, I truly understand the importance of the Age-Friendly Initiative.” He expressed excitement about the opportunities that would emerge from this effort.

Comments from the Crowd

“The support shown at the kick-off event by AARP leadership, Mayor Grebien, and so many organizations across the City was just amazing,” said Maureen Maigret, policy advisor for the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island (SACRI). “Now, the work begins as the Task Force reviews the survey data to identify which areas to target for initial efforts.”

As a Pawtucket native, Maigret was thrilled to see the city’s Age-Friendly designation come to fruition. She had previously served as a consultant for Newport 4 All Ages, Rhode Island’s first Age-Friendly Community.

“I was so energized by the turnout at the Age-Friendly designation event in Pawtucket,” said Carol Anne Costa, Executive Director of SARI. “And kudos to Mary Lou and her team. The day demonstrated the power of community. Advocacy depends on citizens speaking and acting in their own best interests. Pawtucket’s work shows that older adults are ready to make Rhode Island a state that promotes healthy aging.”

Age-Friendly Pawtucket Task Force Members

• Pawtucket Senior Citizens Council
• Pawtucket Commission on Arts & Culture
• Blackstone Valley Community Action Program
• Blackstone Health, Inc.
• Blackstone Valley Prevention Coalition
• Gateway Healthcare/Brown University Health

Resources:

1. Step-by-Step Toolkit for Creating an Age-Friendly Community
   Start the process of becoming an age-friendly community by following this guide:
   Age-Friendly Toolkit
2. Understanding AARP’s Age-Friendly Process
   Learn more about AARP’s approach to creating age-friendly communities:
   AARP Age-Friendly Communities

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Rhode Island Communities in the Age‑Friendly Movement

Here’s the current status of Rhode Island municipalities in the AARP/WHO Age‑Friendly network:

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Herb Weiss, LRI ’12, is a Pawtucket-based writer who has covered aging, healthcare, and medical issues for over 45 years. To purchase his books, Taking Charge: Collected Stories on Aging Boldly and its two sequels, visit herbweiss.com.  This writer serves as Deputy Director of the Leon Mathieu Senior Center and is a member of Age-Friendly Pawtucket’s Task Force.

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To read more articles by Herb Weiss, go to: https://rinewstoday.com/herb-weiss/