Communities for a

Lifetime

A 2009 MNLCOA Initiative

The MNLCOA was the initial promoter of the Communities for a Lifetime legislation that was passed in 2009 (Laws of Minnesota, 2009, Chapter 60). The legislation provides a framework for communities to build an infrastructure that will successfully serve the changing demographics of Minnesota. The MNLCOA hopes that communities will recognize and embrace older adults as an important part of a community/regions future development and it will continue to advocate for public policy that supports the Communities for a Lifetime legislation.

Mike Weber, policy committee chair of the MNLCOA and a primary author of the legislation writes: "Communities for a Lifetime envisions communities that welcome a growing population of seniors. It envisions communities that offer the opportunity to serve in a second career, as a volunteer and community leader, continuing to give back to the community. It offers a variety of options for affordable, accessible housing. It provides opportunities for socializing, recreation and activities that preserve health and independence. It offers a wide array of home- and community-based services to support ongoing independent living. These characteristics are among the seventeen factors that communities have identified as the essence of a community that cares for its elders."

How the Legislation Defines a Community for a Lifetime

"Communities for a lifetime. (a) For purposes of the subdivision, "Communities for a lifetime" means partnerships of small cities, counties, municipalities, statutory or home rule charter cities, or towns, whose citizens seek to affirmatively extend to persons age 65 and older the opportunities, supports and services that will enable them to continue to be contrbuting, civically engaged residents."

Recommending Five Broad Categories for Placement of CFL Factors

The original legislation provides greater detail of the factors outlined below and a 2010 Minnesota Board on Aging Report offers recommendations for the future of the Communities for a Lifetime legislation. The MNLCOA advocates that five broad categories be used in developing official designation for the Minnesota Communities for a Lifetime legislation. These categories and their factors are outlined below:

A Community for a Lifetime offers seniors opportunities to continue CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY, through opportunities to:

Contribute time and talents through structured volunteer activities,
Opportunities to participate in the paid workforce, with flexibility of hours and scheduling,
Engage in structured intergenerational activities with children and adolescents.

A Community for a Lifetime offers seniors strong HEALTH AND WELLNESS options including:

Age-responsive exercise and health facility options,
Access to nutrition programs, including nutrition counseling and home-delivered meal opportunities
Opportunities to access contemporary information regarding senior health preventive practices, long-term care issues, the need for advanced health care directives and their prominent placement, and other issues affected by aging. Opportunities might include Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities, professional "navigators" to assist with accessing long term care opitions, Silver Alert, and assistance to resolving telemarketing fraud.

A Community for a Lifetime offers seniors HOME AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS FOR AGING IN PLACE, emphasizing the availabilities of the right services at the right time, including:

Options to receive home health care and other long term care services in the residential setting of the senior's own choice,
Caregiver Support, including (adult day programs), evening and weekend respite options,
Access to in-home hospice services and a geographically accessible hospice facility.

A Community for a Lifetime offers seniors COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE supportive of aging in the community, including:

A variety of affordable, accessible housing options, including single family housing with home modification opportunities, independent congregate senior housing, and senior housing with services,
An emergency Medical Service with the capacity to triage the needs of seniors, with only the most serious situations resulting in transportation to a hospital,
Mobility throughout the community and access to public transportation, including door-to-door assistance and weekend and evening access.

A Communities For A Lifetime provides for seniors in its COMMUNITY PLANNING, including:

Establishing a commission to advise the Communities for a Lifetime on its ongoing provision of these CFL factors,
Offering training and learning opportunities for businesses, civic groups, fire and law enforcement personnel on best practice methods of interacting with seniors,
Incorporating into its local plan elements that address the forecast change in demographic age structure including, but not limited to, land use, housing, public facilities, transportation, housing, and capital improvement plans.