Senior Moments: Is Juneau age-friendly?

By the Juneau Commission on Aging

Juneau’s senior population (30% and growing) agree this is a great place to live but many worry about their ability to remain in our home town. Is Juneau “age friendly” for people of all ages and abilities? What makes a community truly livable? The Juneau Commission on Aging (JCOA) and the AARP Community Action Team (CAT) have joined forces to improve Juneau’s “livability” and ensure seniors can stay in the community we love as we age.

Community issues are best solved by the whole community working together. The AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities & States, a community-based planning process, is a way to adopt age-friendly concepts within a framework called the Eight Domains of Livability. “Age-Friendly Communities” are intentionally designed to be inclusive and accessible for people of all ages, especially older adults, by adapting structures and services to meet evolving community needs to help people age with dignity, independence and security. This includes safe and accessible public spaces, affordable and suitable housing, accessible transportation, and opportunities for social and civic participation.

The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) joined the Age Friendly Network in 2022. The JCOA and AARP partnered to advocate for the Eight Domains of Livability and recently submitted the first Juneau Age-Friendly Community Action Plan to the CBJ Comprehensive Planning Team to ensure seniors have a voice in Juneau’s future. This plan https://juneau.org/clerk/boards-committees/jcoa-age-friendly-planning highlights priorities and identifies action steps for improving housing options, community and wellness/health services, and recreation opportunities for all ages.

Promising livable communities have adequate, appropriate housing. Our plan promotes Age Friendly housing developments that enable seniors to downsize from larger, less accessible homes, leading to housing market expansion, while providing options for people of all abilities to live safely. Earlier this year AARP sponsored “Design for Life” – a community forum exploring housing ideas for all ages and stages of life. In an effort to expand options, CBJ recently simplified the process and size criteria for adding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s) to increase the ability of elders to add space to their home for family helpers or home health care assistance. But we can do more to increase options.

Another key indicator of livable communities are plentiful Recreation and Wellness opportunities and with the help of local organizations, we continue to support the concept of the Marie Drake as a Senior Community Center with indoor pickleball courts, walking indoor track and multigenerational classes and activities to serve the downtown, Salmon Creek corridors and Douglas Island to provide spaces for more indoor community activities and to complement the array of options in the valley.

Socialization opportunities are critical for all ages but especially our elders. AARP has collaborated extensively with Juneau Parks & Recreation and Juneau Public Libraries. We recently co-cosponsored Parks and Rec multigenerational Walks to the Libraries, several music events and workshops such as Brain Health, Strong Bones to promote wellness and longevity.

Employers contribute on many levels to “livability”. Bartlett Regional Hospital (BRH) became to first community hospital in Alaska to receive Age-Friendly Health Care System Level 1 Designation from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, and the American Hospital Association Collaboration by adopting Age-Friendly Health Care concepts and signing the AARP Employer Pledge - affirming the value of experienced workers and a commitment to developing a diverse organization.

Community collaboration sparks innovation and novel ways to resolve community issues. If you are interested in learning more about Juneau’s Commission on Aging, tune in to KTOO Juneau Afternoon for senior news at 3PM, 1st Thursday of the month and check out our website: https://juneau.org/clerk/boards-committees/jcoa.  If you are interested in information on the AARP Employer Pledge google AARP Age-Friendly Businesses. AARP welcomes additional partners. Anyone 18 or older can join AARP, however some benefits are restricted to those 50 and older. The Juneau Community Action Team is always looking for partners. And all community members are encouraged to add your voice to the CBJ Comprehensive Plan at OurFuture@Juneau.gov.

November is Family Caregiver Month. Alaska Caregivers provided millions of hours of unpaid care and it’s projected to increase as our population ages. This month we honor the caregivers of those living with chronic illness, pain or disability and in need of ongoing support. Our caregivers selflessly devote time and energy to their loved ones. Honor a caregiver this month with kindness, thanks or a gift of respite.

Here’s to our continued efforts to maintain good health and well-being as we all age…because aging is so cool, everyone is doing it!

Juneau Commission on Aging is a nine-member, volunteer, CBJ Assembly-appointed organization whose mandate is to advise the CBJ Assembly on actions and policies that improve the quality of life for Juneau’s seniors. Our mission is to provide proactive, coordinated, culturally sensitive and holistic strategies to support Juneau Seniors’ unique needs as we age in the community we love and call home. We collaborate extensively with other organizations, such as the volunteer AARP Community Action Team, an arm of the state and national AARP network.

• Juneau Commission on Aging is a nine-member, CBJ Assembly-appointed organization whose mandate is to advise the CBJ Assembly on actions and policies that improve the quality of life for Juneau’s seniors. Our mission is to provide proactive, coordinated, culturally sensitive and holistic strategies to support Juneau Seniors’ unique needs as we age in the community we love and call home.