Connecticut town plans to become senior-friendly
April 13, 2011
The town of New Canaan theorizes that, if older adults are provided with more accessible outdoor amenities such as sidewalks and benches, overall senior health could be improved, according to The New Canaan Patch.
Consequently, The New Canaan Health & Human Services Commission is launching two initiatives this year. One will be a campaign to build more sitting benches around the downtown area, so that seniors who are feeling adventurous also have places to rest during a stroll.
Another program will be hosted with the YMCA to encourage older adults to stay healthy during their golden years through diet and exercise. This may not even entail a gym – if safe sidewalks and benches are in place, seniors could get their daily workouts from a brisk walk.
Towns aren’t the only places that are working to become more age-friendly. Experts suggest that seniors should renovate their homes for retirement as well. One way to do this is to install a personal emergency response system, these medical alert systems can be used to instantly send a medical alert in the case of an unexpected injury.
Falls may be the biggest risk for older adults- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that one in three adults over the age of 60 falls each year.
