DOMAIN

ACTION ITEM(s)

DATES AND ASSIGNED STAFF/ GROUP

DETAILS AND GOALS

ALL

Provide community wide education- What is an Age Friendly Community and Why is this important for Salem now and in the future?

Recruit members TO SERVE ON AGE FRIENDLY SALEM DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI) COMMITTEE.

2025

Center 50+ Advisory Commission and Age Friendly Action Team

TBD

Speaker’s Bureau- Create Age Friendly Salem Script, recruit and train volunteers/staff to speak at local opportunities, create a list of community agency partners, business community, and general population groups. Share vision of Age Friendly

Goals: 1. Raise TOMA surrounding Age Friendly vocabulary and goals. Through speaking engagements and regular and consistent messaging surrounding Age Friendly mission and goals.

2. Speak at a minimum of two outreach events each month for the course of 12 months.

3. Recruit senior volunteers to serve on a variety of boards and committees to represent the goals of an Age Friendly Community.

4. DEI TO WORK ON ADDRESSING ALL BARRIERS IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED IN THE SALEM AGE FRIENDLY ASSESSMENT.

TRANSPORTATION

1. Support on-going outreach efforts to educate seniors on public transportation, walking, biking and carpool options.
2. Hold an annual senior-friendly mobility event

Fall 2024/ Spring 2025

Partner with local transportation and mobility experts to create an annual fair/event. Hold regular and consistent walk/ride events.

Goals: 1. Increased awareness on available community transportation resources.

2.Increase usage/comfort with walking and bike riding

3. Increase usage/comfort utilizing public transportation

4. Support Seniors utilizing technology now used in transportation services

5. Perform Walk-Audits in every geographic Village area annually and assist with identifying assets of health, wellness, and socialization in each neighborhood and walking, bike, and bus routes to support living independently in their neighborhood.

6. Consult with Age Friendly Salem DEI Committee

SOCIAL PARTICIPATION

Create a tool kit for local event planners and venues on how to create an Age Friendly Event.

Center 50+ Advisory Commission appoints one member to serve on committees or boards representing the needs of local seniors and to provide input on mobility issues, restroom demands, and parking limitations

Fall 2026

Assist the community in creating events that are accessible and inviting to people of all ages and all abilities.

Goals:

1. Recruit a team that includes people of all ages and abilities to create an Age Friendly Event tool box.
2. Find donor/sponsor so that tool box can be provided free of charge to all. (accept donations when appropriate). Distribute 50 event tool boxes annually.
3. Recruit volunteers to serve on a variety of committees and boards to represent the needs of older adults in the creation of community-wide events.
4. Consult with Age Friendly Salem DEI Committee

HOUSING

Create the framework for Center 50+ Villages Network. Support geographic areas in creating a network of seniors, volunteers, faith community, and schools to create a “Village”.

Deliver programs, activities, services, and resources through a mobile senior center model. Taking services to neighborhoods and front porches through the Wellness-on-Wheels Program provided by Center 50+

Join Compass Point (4 non-profits) creating multi-family housing that includes intentional recruitment and retention of “elders”.

Ongoing

Heidi Miller/C50+ Staff and Volunteers

Center 50+ staff and volunteers, agency partners.

Spring 2026

Support older adults in remaining in their homes and neighborhoods as long as they choose. Recognizing that seniors need a “village” to support their desire to remain in their homes. Also, recognizing that the concept of “living independently” includes some personal responsibility and behavior changes.

Goals: 1. Create a peer-lead Village in every geographic area throughout Salem. Roll-out 3 villages per year.

2.Offer emergency preparedness and resources that promote resiliency as a foundational piece in each village area- a part of every new Village member’s orientation includes: emergency prep kit, added to reassurance call-phone tree, and support in creating a support system.

3. Recruit churches, schools, and volunteers to be a “friend” to seniors in each village.

4. Within the structure of the Villages provide education, resources and supports which assist seniors in remaining in their homes- focusing on accessibility and home safety.

5. Recruit and train volunteers to provide Outreach Services: Friendly Caller, Canine Corp, Friendship Brigade, Fix-it Brigade, and Tech Tutors.

6. Consult with Age Friendly Salem DEI Committee.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND HEALTH SERVICES

Deliver programs, activities, services, and resources through a mobile senior center model. Taking services to neighborhoods and front porches through the Wellness-on-Wheels Program provided by Center 50+.

Create an Age Friendly Business Certification Program, Preferred Age Friendly Business/Resource Director

FUND AND OPERATE TECH LENDING LIBRARY AND ON-GOING TECH TUTORING AND CLASSES

Began in March 2020 with Center 50+ staff and volunteers, agency partners.

This work is ongoing and continues to be nimble in response to community need.

September 2027

Age Friendly Business Committee and Retirement Connection Resource Guide

Began in MARCH 2020-ongoing

TECH TEAM VOLUNTEERS/CITYOFSALEM/GRANTORS

Insure that older adults have access to community supports and health services.

1. Identify barriers to accessing supports/health services- resolve those barriers.
2. Deliver services to seniors where they live.
3. Support access to Technology- education, equipment, and Internet access.
4. Consult withAge Friendly Salem DEI Committee

Educate businesses on the value of becoming an Age Friendly Business. Help seniors connect to Age Friendly businesses and resources.

Goals:

1. Recruit Committee to process Age Friendly Business Applications, provide required trainings, and perform site-visits.
2. Recruit 50 businesses to become Age Friendly Certified by end of year one.
3. Work with Retirement Connection to recognize Age Friendly Businesses in their Directory with a special asterisks and details on what it means to be an Age Friendly Business.

Goals:

1. 50 Chromebooks w/ full Internet Access
2. 25 Volunteers to provide tutoring and tech support
3. Funding to support monthly Internet Expense (needed by July 2022)
4. Offer classes to 20 seniors per month on using today’s technology.
5. Consult Age Friendly DEI Committee

CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT

DEVELOP PROMOTIONAL MESSAGES AND MATERIALS TO EDUCATE AGENCIES AND MUNICIPALITIES ON THE VALUE OF HIRING SENIORS.

HOLD ANNUAL SENIOR CAREER FAIR AND HIRING EVENT

HOLD ANNUAL SENIOR VOLUNTEER EVENT- CREATING AN EVENT THAT CONNECTS NON-PROFITS TO LOCAL SENIORS.

HOLD ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON FINDING PASSION AND PURPOSE AS YOU AGE.

CREATE BENEFIT STRUCTURE OR STIPEND PROGRAM TO SUPPORT VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION. REMOVE BARRIERS FOR LOW-INCOME SENIORS TO VOLUNTEER

SEPTEMBER 2026

AGE FRIENDLY SALEM ACTION TEAM, GOODWILL INDUSTRIES, AND OREGON EMPLOYMENT DIVISION

Utilizing a limited duration/grant funded volunteer coordinator to assist with creating policy and procedures to better utilize, retain, and train older adult volunteers to serve the community in a variety of ways.

Spring 2026

CREATE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE FOCUSED ON EMPLOYMENT AFTER 50 AND BARRIERS TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

Goals:

1. Increase volunteer opportunities in Salem
2. Increase the percentage of older adults in the workforce
3. Identify and overcome potential negative stereotypes of older workers.
4. Hold a successful in-person or virtual event.
5. Have seniors and the community recognize that planning for civic engagement is a key component of retirement planning.

Communication

Assist Center 50+ in creating an Age Friendly Communication Plan

Create a list of best practices in providing Age Friendly Communication.

Fall 2023 Continue to learn from committee members and City of Salem consultants on better ways to exchange information with the public. In particular communication tools valued by older adults.

Create a communication team