Phase 1: Assessment
Undertaken in 2016, this phase used research, field work, and outreach to evaluate the current conditions for Age-Friendliness in Columbus. The summary and results of Phase 1 were published in February, 2017 in the Age-Friendly Columbus Findings Report.
Existing Information and Studies
Age-Friendly Leadership and staff worked together to collect existing information and studies relevant to the aging population in Columbus. This type of research included secondary literature review (especially related to other cities’ age-friendly community initiatives), studies conducted by various agencies in Central Ohio that relate to our aging demographics and the eight domains, as well as Census and general services, housing, and infrastructure data.
The following studies and resources were most commonly utilized during the assessment.
– AARP Livable Communities
– Central Ohio Older Adult Needs Assessment
– Franklin County Health Map 2016
– Insight2050
– Meeting the Challenges of an Aging Population with Success
– World Health Organization: Toward and AgeFriendly World
Survey
The Center for Community Solutions (CCS) was engaged by MORPC and AARP Ohio to collect feedback and information from Columbus residents over the age of 50 via surveys. Through a comprehensive representative survey and a shorter convenience sample survey, older adults were asked about the eight age-friendly Domains. Survey results reflect the impressions of older adult residents about amenities, services, barriers, and challenges within their neighborhood.
Community Engagement
Staff, Age-Friendly Leadership, and volunteers worked with older adults in the four neighborhoods. Through focus groups, walk audits, and casual conversations, neighborhood-specific strengths and weaknesses were identified.
Staff, Age-Friendly Leadership, and volunteers facilitated focus groups with older adults who may not have received the survey, such as the refugee and immigrant population. The focus groups’ objectives were to more deeply discuss questions pertaining the eight Domains.
Phase 2: Planning
The inclusive strategic planning process was carried out between February and September of 2017, and resulted in 17 objectives organizing 54 actions to be implemented over the next three years.
“Age-Friendly Columbus is a place that is vibrant and livable for all ages, where daily life is healthy, safe and comfortable. People are well connected via transportation options, a variety of communication methods and plentiful social activities. The community is enriched by the wisdom of the experienced and the creation of intergenerational relationships.”
All-Inclusive Planning Process:
Age-Friendly Columbus championed a robust inclusive planning process in order to ensure that it was planning with, not for, older adults. It engaged members of the Leadership Team, residents over fifty, members of the immigrant community, service providers, and other members of the public to gather input and expertise on how to go about promoting Columbus’ strengths and addressing its weaknesses to help make Columbus a great place to live- at any age.
Over 125 individuals were directly engaged in the Age-Friendly Columbus initiative to provide input and guidance on the direction of the plan. These individuals served on three different groups: the Advisory Council, eight Domain-related Subcommittees, and the 50+ Residents Council. In addition, members from each of these groups came together to form the Strategic Plan Working Group. Together, all of these groups are known as the Age-Friendly Columbus Leadership Team.
The World Health Organization and AARP Livable Communities established eight domains or focus areas to organize the work of making a community more Age-Friendly. Age-Friendly Columbus’ plan follows the domain structure with slight modification. With input from the Advisory Council, a goal was established for each domain.
Phase 3: Implementation
The Age-Friendly Columbus Strategic Plan was implemented from 2018 through 2020 in collaboration with the partners and according to the timelines named in the Implementation Plan.
In 2018, AFCFC transitioned to The Ohio State University’s College of Social Work to begin the implementation phase. In collaboration with organizations and departments across the community, AFCFC is making big strides towards accomplishing it’s strategies. This implementation phase will last through 2020. At the end of the 3 years, AFCFC will evaluate and begin the 5-year cycle over again.
Review the 2018 Age-Friendly Progress Report to learn about highlights from the first year of implementation. The report can be found here: https://agefriendlycolumbus.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2018-Report.pdf
Watch the Press Conference launching the Age-Friendly Strategic Plan.
You will learn more about specific strategies being implemented in the ‘Strategy Highlights’ section of this orientation.
Phase 4: Evaluation
Interim reports were made throughout the implementation phase to document progress toward that year’s indicators. The indicators for the following year were set at that time. At the end of the three year implementation phase (2020), plan accomplishments were evaluated and reported upon in a Final Report, and a new strategic planning process began. As each strategy is implemented, evaluation metrics and tools were created.
As you have learned, the Age-Friendly framework lays out a 5 year cycle of improvement. Age-Friendly Columbus and Franklin County completed the initial cycle in 2020. Click the following picture to read about the highlights of those first 5 years:
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