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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW A Q & A with Schneider interim director Scott Malbaurn ... Four & Twenty Blackbirds Bakery takes flight to new roost ... Inner Peace: You can change your self by reworking your ego ... A Q & A with Schneider interim director Scott Malbaurn ... Four & Twenty Blackbirds Bakery takes flight to new roost ... Inner Peace: You can change your self by reworking your ego ... COUNCIL CORNER City looking for ways to create a healthy Ashland for all ages Comment By Stef Seffinger DailyTidings.com By Stef Seffinger Posted Apr. 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Stef Seffinger Posted Apr. 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News I spent most of my professional career as a school psychologist, developing children’s programs that fostered self-esteem, social connections and healthy living. After moving to Ashland and serving on the Ashland Park Commission, the Senior Advisory Board and as a volunteer for Ashland At Home, I developed more knowledge in the needs of older citizens as well. Our City Council goals include community quality of life and developing supports to enable citizens to age healthfully in Ashland. At our council study session on May 19 we will look at ways to support these goals. I recently attended a leadership forum on creating age-friendly communities. I also attended the Ashland Chamber of Commerce health and wellness committee and have visited with residents of Mountain Meadows to hear about their needs. Through these experiences and my membership on the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, I have been introduced to a number of programs that address how to create healthy, age-friendly communities. Many of these programs were developed through research in looking at some of the world’s healthiest communities to see what qualities they have in common. The World Health Organization has developed a guide to help cities become truly age-friendly, accessible, and inclusive for citizens of all ages, disabilities and needs. This 76-page guide looks at ways cities can provide accessible public spaces, transportation, community support and health services to meet the needs of all citizens. It provides a checklist so cities can assess their current status and plan for future needs. AARP’s Real Possibilities Program works toward the goal of developing a network of age-friendly communities across the United States. This program includes assessment tools, support and guidance in developing advocacy efforts in the areas of housing, transportation, mobility, community design and land use planning. Oregon Healthiest State Program strives to reduce health issues such as obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity and chronic illness by bringing private, nonprofit and public sectors together  to improve health and well being through a community effort to take on the state’s most pressing health issues and develop infrastructure, practices and policies to ensure healthy options are available to all. The Blue Zone Project studied the world’s healthiest communities to identify the characteristics that make them vital. This program engages the public and private sector to work together for a healthier, sustainable environment with long-term changes in positive community health. This program involves such features as a personal checklist of what individuals can do, city practices in planning and developing a truly accessible community, positive workplace practices and development of healthy food options in schools, grocery stores and restaurants. The Rogue Valley Council of Governments has a project to encourage building lifelong, accessible housing by offering a certification program. A conference is planned for developers, builders and civic leaders in May to learn how it works. Ashland is extremely fortunate to have in place many of the features recommended for a healthy, age-friendly community. These include street designs that encourage walking and biking, lands codes that encourage mixed-use development, grocery stores with excellent selections of healthy, local and organic foods and restaurants that offer healthy alternatives. Ashland offers a rich variety of cultural, educational, faith and recreation options, all viewed as vital to a healthy community. Some of the health and age-friendly challenges ahead include: An aging population, with the over-85 population one of Oregon’s fastest growing demographics. This makes programs such as Aging in Place and transportation options for non-drivers critical concerns. Meeting the needs of the increasing number of people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, including respite programs for care givers. Decreasing the rates of chronic diseases by focusing on developing a community that embraces a healthy lifestyle. Promoting employment and housing options in Ashland that encourage maintaining a balance in the age of our population and attracting families. As a city councilor, I want to do all I can to promote the health and age-friendly qualities of our city, to share ideas and programs without duplicating efforts and to understand what role the city should play in this arena. I would love to hear from you about these issues before our May 19 study session. What creative ideas can you share? What experiences have you had that we can learn from? I invite your participation to make Ashland a healthy and age-friendly community. Please contact me at: [email protected]. Stef Seffinger is a member of the Ashland City Council.   By Stef Seffinger DailyTidings.com By Stef Seffinger Posted Apr. 21, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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