| Julie Fralich |
What would make New Gloucester more livable for you? What would make it easier for you to remain in your home as you grow older? If you are a family with young children, what would be helpful for you? Whether you’re new in town or a long-time resident, what services, supports or social activities would you like to see here?
Residents of all ages are invited to share ideas at an Age-Friendly Livable Community Listening Session on Monday, April 24. The volunteer group BLING – Building Livability in New Gloucester – is hosting. The evening starts with social time and refreshments at 6 p.m., and the listening session gets under way at 6:30, in the Community Room (vestry) of the First Congregational Church.
The April 24 listening session is also an opportunity to learn more about our community. It builds on BLING’s work to date, including its New Gloucester community survey results, together with data from the M-DASH project. The M-DASH data paint a picture of who lives in New Gloucester, while the survey results identify the strengths of our community as well as needs and challenges.
Some highlights from the M-DASH data:
• New Gloucester has a healthy mix of young and old residents. The median age is 39, and 25% of residents are under 18.
• The population has shifted since 2010, with increasing numbers of people from 60 to 79, but fewer people over 80.
The 168 respondents to the BLING community survey represented residents of all ages, who live in all areas of town. They indicated that most people (90%) felt included, respected (92%) and that their voices were heard (76%). And an overwhelming percentage of people said it was important or very important to remain in their homes as they grow older (84%).
What challenges do people face as they need more help, and/or get older? What about younger people with families? The results of the BLING survey begin to shed some light on these questions, too. Three areas were identified as of most concern to residents:
• HOUSING: affordability, accessibility and maintenance. Affordability is of concern to people of all ages. The lack of accessible housing is of concern to older residents and those with disabilities, and older residents indicated improvements that would help them stay in their homes as they age.
• ROAD SAFETY. The importance of wider shoulders for cyclists and pedestrians, clear signage for drivers, and strategies for slowing traffic were rated very highly on the community survey.
• WELLNESS AND SERVICES. Most people have to travel out of town for medical and other services. But it was also clear that information about services is not readily available locally.
Come to the Listening Session on April 24 to learn more about what the community survey and M-DASH data reveal about New Gloucester and share your ideas for making New Gloucester the most age-friendly livable community possible!
— Julie Fralich, BLING – Building Livability in New Gloucester
