SourcePoint, in collaboration with the Delaware General Health District, and with the support of the Delaware County Commissioners, seeks to designate Delaware County an Age-Friendly Community, according to Robert Horrocks, executive director of SourcePoint.
The World Health Organization, in partnership with AARP, has developed a network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities to encourage active aging. SourcePoint and the Delaware General Health District seek to assist Delaware County leaders in creating a community that supports healthy aging, and in so doing, improve the health, well-being, satisfaction, and quality of life of older residents. Age-friendly or livable communities have walkable streets, housing and transportation options, access to key services, and opportunities for residents to participate in community activities.
“We’re excited by the opportunity to make Delaware County an Age-Friendly Community,” Horrocks said. “By achieving this designation, our communities will be become great places for people of all ages to live. Well-designed, livable communities promote and sustain economic growth, and they make for happier, healthier residents.”
On Monday, Nov. 6, Delaware County Commissioners, Jeff Benton, Gary Merrell, and Barb Lewis, signed an official proclamation endorsing and supporting the initiatives led by SourcePoint.
“As a nationally accredited health district, one of the items we are responsible for is assessing the health of the community, particularly vulnerable populations,” said Health Commissioner Shelia Hiddleson. “We’re excited to partner with SourcePoint on this initiative and provide a better insight on our older residents which can sometimes be a vulnerable population.”
The age-friendly project will take five years to complete and begins with an extensive membership assessment, in which the community’s strengths and weaknesses are identified in relation to eight domains of a livable community as identified by the World Health Organization. The domains include outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information, and community support and health services.
