Inside Aging – September 2023

https://mailchi.mp/pa/inside-aging-september2023?e=a599c080be

What Will It Be Like to Age in Pennsylvania? Make Sure Your Voice is Heard!

Virtual, In-person Listening Sessions on Master Plan for Older Adults Set for September

The Department of Aging will host another series of virtual listening sessions through the month of September on the Master Plan for Older Adults – a 10-year, state-led and stakeholder-driven strategic plan designed to help transform the infrastructure and coordination of services for older Pennsylvanians. The Master Plan will also reflect the needs and preferences of this population to live where they choose and access the supports they need to thrive and age in place. 

During these virtual listening sessions, attendees will hear about the planning process and provide their input on a variety of topic areas, structured on AARP’s 8 Domains of Livability for Age-Friendly Communities on the following dates:

Tuesday, September 12 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, September 14 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 20 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Monday, September 25 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Anyone interested in attending any of these virtual listening sessions can register here.

The department will also present a topic- and audience-specific virtual input sessions on the following dates:

Thursday, September 7 from 10 a.m. to noon – presented by the PA Food Policy Council and the discussion will pertain to senior nutrition and food security. Senior Nutrition Virtual Session Registration
Wednesday, September 13 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. – presented by the Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Virtual Input Session Registration
Friday, September 15 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. – presented in Spanish. Spanish Virtual Session Registration
The 52 Area Agencies on Aging will continue hosting in-person listening sessions in all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties where the public can learn about the plan and to provide input. The department has created a list of these sessions organized by county on its website. This list will be updated as more sessions are scheduled.

What Aging Issues are Important to You? Take Our Online Survey.

As part of the Master Plan’s development, the department is encouraging everyone to fill out a survey anonymously to share their experience on what it means to age in Pennsylvania.

The University of Pittsburgh and other commonwealth-based partners created the survey, which is designed to capture the experience of older adults and people living with a disability across a wide range of issues. The issues in this survey have been identified as important for people as they age and for people who have disabilities. However, it is not meant to be all-inclusive. There is a space at the end of the survey to share any other suggestions or issues people find important.

The survey is open until September 30, 2023.

To find a listening session in your Area Agency on Aging location, or to fill out the survey, visit the Department of Aging’s website.