The City of Columbus has released its plan to make the city more friendly to seniors. This comes as officials expect central Ohio’s population of people age 65 and older to double over the next 35 years. Jim Letizia reports.
The city teamed up with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and an advisory council to survey nearly 1 thousand residents over the past two years and create the plan. The Age-Friendly Columbus initiative identified strategies in eight areas, including transportation and housing, buildings, outdoor space, employment, and social participation. Recommendations include encouraging the use of different types of transportation, encouraging walking in neighborhoods, and making government and business more welcoming. The group has created an Age-Friendly Business Directory and will work to educating employers about best practices. The group also wants to convert an east side community center into an aging hub. Ohio State University's College of Social Work will administrate the plan. More information on the plan is posted online at agefriendlycolumbus.org.
