After 40 years of service, The Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens (MOSC) was transitioned in 2017 from a direct service provider model to an Age Friendly Seattle service coordinator model.
Over the years, community based partners have grown in both number and service capacity, leading to the need to re-structure the office into a supportive partner role, according to city officials. This entity was transitioned from a direct service provider into an entity that provides service coordination, training, systems development, and outreach work.
City officials said the city is committed to making our communities a great place to grow up and grow old.
Age Friendly Seattle has created an Age-Friendly Seattle Action Plan. Learn about age-friendly cities here. Click on Highlights, above, to check progress. Note: For free, professional, and confidential aging network services, visit Community Living Connections
What is an “age-friendly” city?
An age-friendly city is a community in which people can grow up and grow old with ease. The World Health Organization (WHO) determined specific environmental, economic, and social factors that influence the health and well-being of older adults. Sometimes we call these “The 8 Domains” of livability.
- Transportation: Community mobility is essential to optimal aging. Age Friendly Seattle supports safe, reliable, and easy-to-use travel options-including accessible and affordable public transit, rideshare, walking, and biking-to get people of all ages where they need to go.
- Housing: Older adults want to age in place-stay in their homes and communities for as long as possible-and benefit from living in affordable, age-friendly housing. Age Friendly Seattle supports diverse housing options that allow older adults of all incomes to live in clean, safe, comfortable, and well-maintained housing; design that encourages visitability for all ages and abilities; and availability of a strong network of home-based services in age-friendly neighborhoods.
- Outdoor Spaces and Buildings: People need public places to gather-indoors and out. Age Friendly Seattle supports parks and other green spaces, safe streets, sidewalks, outdoor seating, and accessible buildings that can be used and enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities.
- Social Participation: Social participation and physical activity are essential for both quality of life and longevity. Age Friendly Seattle supports learning, fitness, social, cultural, and spiritual activities for older adults as well as intergenerational activities that are accessible, affordable, safe, and fun.
- Respect and Social Inclusion: Everyone wants to feel valued. Age Friendly Seattle celebrates and draws upon the wisdom and experience of older adults, encourages intergenerational and multicultural understanding, and works to eliminate ageism and ensure consistent levels of high-quality service for all ages.
- Civic Participation and Employment: Whether working for pay or volunteering time and talent, many older adults find value in contributing to their communities. Age Friendly Seattle supports services for mature jobseekers who need or want to work, promotes age-friendly business practices, and encourages older adults to share their skills to address community needs.
- Community and Health Services: All people should have access to affordable health care and community services that help them live comfortably and with dignity. Age Friendly Seattle supports coordination and promotion of services to help meet the needs of older adults and caregivers.
- Communication and Information: Older adults receive information in a variety of ways, and no one way reaches every person. Age Friendly Seattle promotes accessible print and digital communications, and community partnerships that increase access to information that older adults need for optimal aging.
The City of Seattle is developing age-friendly improvements in each of the domains of livability. To download a print copy of Age Friendly Seattle’s vision for each domain, click here
To download the Action Plan for 2018–2021, click here. An executive summary is available here
The community-based Age Friendly Coalition for Seattle and King County continues to accept new members. For agendas, summaries, and meeting materials, click here
For other information, e-mail [email protected].
