Opportunity Details
TeamWorks: Transforming Portland to an Age-Friendly City (age 18+) *Hands On*
Join a TeamWorks team of volunteers for a series of done-in-a-day projects led by a Hands On Greater Portland TeamWorks Leader. TeamWorks offers volunteers the opportunity to make a slightly longer-term commitment to volunteering, delve into a topic or issue-area, and get to know other volunteers in the process.
“An age-friendly city is a city that is friendly for people of all ages and abilities.”
Portland, like Oregon, the United States and much of the world, is witnessing the unprecedented aging of its population. One of the most effective ways of responding to these changing demographics is to work to make cities and communities “age-friendly.” This includes planning for those who are frail, people with disabilities, and families and active people across the lifespan. When communities successfully meet the needs of older people, the result is, more often than not, good for everyone from mothers pushing strollers to people in wheelchairs.
Older adults are one of our city's richest resources. If we can ensure that they can participate fully in the life of the city for as long as possible, our entire community benefits. But what does “age-friendly” really mean? How can we improve our city’s physical and social environments to allow residents to remain healthy, independent, and autonomous long into their old age?
Join Hands On, AARP-Oregon, Elders in Action, and the Institute on Aging at Portland State University for Transforming Portland to an Age-Friendly City, a special five-session TeamWorks experience focused on exploring this topic through a series of service-learning sessions. This fall, we will discover what constitutes an age-friendly community and explore what individuals can do to help in this transformation. Key determinants to be explored include access to quality food, recreational spaces, engagement in social activities, and being able to move about your community safely and comfortably.To achieve a better understanding of this issue, we will participate in a series of service projects to support local organizations that are already leading the way!
As a team, we will learn about the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Age-friendly Cities movement, including the eight areas of focus that contribute to making an age-friendly city. We’ll head to Fred Meyer and shop for groceries for home-bound seniors with Store to Door. We’ll learn about the mission of the Portland Memory Garden as we help maintain the landscape. We will engage in a “Walkability Audit” of the Hillsdale neighborhood to provide pilot data for PSU’s Institute on Aging. And we will visit and cook for the residents of Bridge Meadows, an intentional, multi-generation housing community serving Oregon's most vulnerable populations; foster youth, adoptive parents and elders (55+).
Transforming Portland into an age-friendly city will take the commitment and participation of people of all ages -- join us!
AARP-Oregon, Elders in Action and the Institute on Aging at Portland State University are committed to making changes in our community that are good for older adults and that also benefit everyone.
What is TeamWorks? TeamWorks seeks to connect a group of 10-15 peer-led volunteers of all ages to a series of meaningful service opportunities that meet important needs of the community while providing opportunities for volunteers to proactively learn about critical social issues affecting their communities. To support a meaningful and enriching experience, volunteers are asked to commit to participate in all of the learning activities and service projects listed in the series. Please check the Project Schedule below. Signing up for the FIRST session will sign you up for the entire TeamWorks. Questions can be directed to mark@eldersinaction.org or 503-595-7533
Team Schedule:
Wednesday, September 5: Age-Friendly Orientation and Team Kickoff
12pm-2pm - Portland State University, Downtown Portland
In late 2006, PSU’s Institute on Aging (IOA) began collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) in its global Age-Friendly Cities project. Portland was the only U.S. city involved in the initial data collection effort and has remained engaged in the global project since. For our first meeting we will review the origin of the age-friendly cities model, findings from the initial study in Portland, and talk with the Dr. Margaret Neal and Project Coordinator Alan DeLaTorre from Portland State University’s Institute on Aging about what what is happening in Portland and throughout the world.
Wednesday, September 12: Store To Door Grocery Shopping
8:30am-12:00pm - Stadium Fred Meyer, NW Portland
Accessible services are a common theme in the checklist of essential features of age-friendly cities. A key element for an individual to age in place is that community support services are offered for promoting, maintaining, and restoring health. A wonderful example of this type of service is Store to Door, which helps the most vulnerable Portlanders stay in their homes by bringing weekly groceries, prescriptions and household items to the homes of individuals who are over 65 and/or have a disability. We will spend the morning at the Stadium Fred Meyer, shopping for orders to be delivered to the homes of their clients.
Saturday, September 15: Beautify the Grounds at the Portland Memory Garden
9:30am-11:30am - Ed Benedict Park, Outer SE Portland
Well planned, accessible and welcoming spaces that meet the needs of older adults, encourages active aging and participation thereby improving general health and wellness. One of the best examples of an age-friendly outdoor space is the Portland Memory Garden. This very special garden is open to the entire community, but was designed to meet the special needs of those with memory disorders (such as Alzheimer’s disease) and to provide respite for their caregivers. We will complete a service project in the garden and explore what makes this a special environment for all. Garden tasks include weed, groom, sweep, general cleanup. Most tools provided. Optional: bring your own pruners or other sharps. Rain or shine, please dress for the weather!
Wednesday, September 19: Hillsdale Main Street Walkability Audit
9:00am-1:00pm - Hillsdale Main Street, SW Portland
One of the key elements of an age-friendly city is to have accessible and walkable streets. Increased walkability also helps improve resource responsibility, safety, physical fitness and social interaction. We will conduct street audits of Hillsdale Main Street and connected streets and will work with Hillsdale-residing residents to better understand how improvements to the physical environment can improve their neighborhood experience. These projects will serve as a pilot project for the Institute on Aging in its effort to work with neighborhoods in assessing and improving aspects of their communities to become age friendly.
Wednesday, September 26: Discover Bridge Meadows
9:00am-1:00pm - Bridge Meadows, NE Portland
One of the key elements for age-friendly communities is fostering development of socially and economically sustainable housing for the lifespan of a community. A great example of this goal is Bridge Meadows which is a multi-generation housing community serving Oregon's most vulnerable populations; foster youth, adoptive parents and elders (55+). After we tour and look at this unique community, we will complete a service project at this unique housing arrangement that supports meaningful engagement of its multi-generational residents.
Project Requirements:
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Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older to attend this project.
Click "Sign Up" below to reserve your spot! Need help signing up? Call 503-200-3370.
Age Minimum (with Adult): 18+, Minimum Age:18+
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