Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative - Age and Dementia Friendly Community Movement

The Design for Aging Committee is welcoming James Fuccione, MPA, Senior Director of the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative (MHAC) for the June 2018 meeting to speak about the Age and Dementia Friendly Community movement and how our state is a national leader in an effort to create livable and inclusive communities for people of all ages. Mr. Fuccione will be joining Sandra B. Harris, Principal of S. Harris Interiors, a DFA founding member, and an AARP Volunteer for the presentation and discussion.

As a complement to previous presentations and discussions on Livable Communities provided by Michael E. Festa, State Director of AARP Massachusetts and from the Age-Friendly Boston Initiative provided by the city’s Elderly Commission, Mr. Fuccione will be discussing the statewide efforts on how cities, towns and regions across Massachusetts are becoming Age and Dementia Friendly. Moreover, the discussion will focus on opportunities for The BSA Design for Aging Committee and its membership to get involved in advising and influencing local and statewide work.

MHAC is an organization funded by the Tufts Health Plan Foundation and AARP to promote and support Age and Dementia Friendly Communities as well as Massachusetts’ designation as the second state in the country to commit to becoming Age-Friendly. By 2035, most communities in the state will have at least 30 percent of their residents age 60 or older. This presents an opportunity to reshape cities and towns to work better to promote social determinants of health for older adults, those living with dementia, and all residents. Through a commitment to a continuous improvement process, any municipality, region or state can apply to AARP and the World Health Organization to become part of this global movement to determine what can be done to improve livability and quality of life.

Come and join the discussion - the meetings are free and open to all.

James Fuccione is Senior Director of the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative – a network of more than 100 agencies and organizations committed to advancing healthy aging and age-friendly communities throughout the state. The Collaborative promotes policies and practices that are inclusive, relevant, and enhance the quality of life for people of all ages and plays a key role in the Age-Friendly State designation. Prior to MHAC, James spent nearly nine years advocating for home health care agencies, their staff and those they serve as Director of Legislative & Public Affairs for the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts. James also worked as a communications and legislative aide to former State Senator Edward M. Augustus, Jr.

For those who qualify, 1.5 LU/HSWs are available.

To learn more about the Design for Aging Committee, visit architects.org/committees/design-aging-committee

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