Date: June 29, 2007
Contact: Barbara Schoof Conant
barbara.conant@aging.ks.gov
Director of Public Affairs
(785) 296-6154
Note: Media coverage is welcome at these events
Secretary of the Kansas Department on Aging Kathy Greenlee will be in Great Bend and Dodge City in July to help unveil highway signs officially designating those cities as Lifelong Communities, an initiative of the Kansas Department on Aging that assists communities to plan for and better serve citizens of all ages, including seniors.
The ceremonies will be held on Wednesday, July 11. In Great Bend, the ceremony will be at 11 a.m. at the Front Door Community Facility, 1615 10th St. In Dodge City, it will be at 3 p.m. at the Boot Hill Museum, Occident Building, Front Street and Wyatt Earp Boulevard.
“These cities have worked hard to earn the Lifelong Communities designation,” Greenlee said. “While we at KDOA are pleased to have promoted and helped with the project, the heavy lifting was done at the local level. We applaud the collaboration among local leaders, businesses, organizations and government agencies. With the baby boomers starting to reach retirement age, the steps they have taken will be even more appreciated in the future.”
When the Lifelong Communities Initiative began in 2002, KDOA asked area agencies on aging to nominate communities for the demonstration phase of the initiative. Nine communities were selected. In addition to Great Bend and Dodge City, they were Concordia, Garden City, Hiawatha, Topeka, Oberlin, Cottonwood Falls/Chase County and Winfield.
To participate, communities had to complete a community assessment focusing on six areas: business, community service, government, health care, housing and transportation. Then they had to develop and implement a detailed action plan to address areas needing improvement or expansion. Following are some of the projects the cities have done to meet the Lifelong Communities commitment.
Great Bend: The Front Door, a community center built to provide a “one stop” resource for community information, social events, paying bills and computer access; sidewalk upgrades; information and programs focusing on health; an affordable housing project; an exercise program for seniors; and a public access television station featuring programming for seniors.
Dodge City: Recruitment of two cardiologists and the addition of an on-site helicopter service for medical transfers, a homeowner’s rehabilitation fund to help with improvements to accommodate seniors and the disabled; curb renovations; a transportation service for seniors; and an exercise program for seniors.
Kansas is the second state to implement the Lifelong Communities Initiative statewide, and that has garnered the program some national attention. In May, it was recognized by the U.S. Administration on Aging as a 2007 Choices for Independence Program Champion. The state of Florida also has recognized it as a Best Practice for Seniors program.