Areas of Commitment
AFIC engages in an iterative process to identify ever evolving areas of commitment. These are determined through the intersection of the expressed community need through resident and service provider voice, the evidence, data and knowledge, and the existing or potential capacity and funding.
While the circles representing the three elements may not always be of equal size, the overlap of these three elements defines the area of commitment for AFIC. The identified areas of commitment are not intended to be stagnant, while some are long standing in AFIC’s history, there is a commitment to continued evolution.
Ageism
As we are all aging, an ongoing priority is addressing ageism in our communities. The impacts of ageism on our health, medical care, and more are well documented in the literature. This commitment also is grounded in the local knowledge that in Central Ohio, well over half of those 50+ feel there are negative stereotypes about aging in our community (CORAA, 2021). Efforts include engagement and promotion of the National Reframe Aging Initiative with students and community partners, continuing efforts on the #ButtonUpAgeism campaign and investing in intergenerational, positive aging photo and video shoots with students and community members.
Climate, Sustainability, and Emergency Response
An emerging area of commitment for AFIC has been to explore what it means to age in a warmer world. To better understand the pressing community challenges, AFIC has hosted numerous community conversations and initiated our Weather and Aging Resilience Model (WARM), co led by Dr. Dabelko-Schoeny and Dr. Smitha Rao . The Center has presented on this work to local, national, and international audiences looking at similar community efforts.
Education and Workforce Development
Through internships, the digital field lab, independent studies, and research opportunities AFIC engages students across disciplines. The Age-Friendly Innovation Center Scholars program welcomes a new cohort of scholars each Fall in experiential learning.
Expansion and Infusion of Age-Friendly Communities Principles
AFIC is committed to promoting the expansion of the Age-Friendly Communities work. Through the generous support of The Health Path Foundation of Ohio, AFIC launched a technical assistance program to support the growth across the state of Ohio. Through the leadership of AFIC, Columbus was selected as the inaugural community for the US-Japan Healthy and Resilient Aging Exchange, recognizing Columbus as an exceptional model of the Age-Friendly communities work within the US. In addition, the program was presented at Silla University in South Korea,
the International Federation on Aging in Bangkok, Thailand, and at the Aging Forum in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
Housing
The ability to safely age in one's home and community continues to be a key area of commitment for AFIC. In line with national data, 95% of Central Ohio residents over the age of 50 report it is important to age in their home (CORAA, 2021). AFIC has demonstrated this commitment through support for the Columbus Aging While Homeless Study (CAWHS) to understand the experiences of unhoused older adults. AFIC has continued to move forward strategies identified in the AFIC community report, Older Adults and Property Taxes: Findings and Recommendations in Franklin County (2022) and is a member of the Franklin County Property Tax Assistance Program Board. AFIC was intralingual to bring Nesterly, an intergenerational home sharing platform, to Central Ohio.
Networks and Coalition Building
Whether supporting grassroots organizations, building relationships across services providers and researchers, or leading the Senior Services Roundtable of Columbus and Franklin County, at AFIC, all work is done in collaboration. Only 25% of Central Ohio residents 50 and over believe their voice is valued by decision makers (CORAA, 2021).
AFIC team members sit on and lead many boards, committees, workgroups, and coalitions on the local, state, and national level to ensure the older resident voice is heard.
LGBTQ+ Friendly Aging
Aging looks different for different populations. In honor of positively impacting the aging experience for all, the Center has dedicated resources to co-imaging this experience alongside LGBTQ+ older adults. This dedication is exhibited through the Center’s LGBTQIA2+ Friendly Aging research initiative, led by Christine Happel.
Transportation and Mobility
AFIC continues to be a leader in lifting the voices of older adults in transportation work.
Highlights include the Center’s work on the Age-Friendly Transit: Accessible and Inclusive Transit Stop Infrastructure report. This report, led to infrastructure updates to eight local Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) bus stops. Another highlight is the Safe Routes to Age in Place Through Villages, a research projects, which will guide implementation of community level initiatives in the coming year.
Village Model
AFIC is pleased to work with the Greater Columbus Network of Villages (GCNV), an innovative and inclusive approach to aging in place that helps to address the economic and social needs of Columbus’ older adults. AFIC has partnered with the various GCNV member Villages on many pilot projects, focus groups, and other programs completed during this time.