We would like to send a big “Thank You” out to all who participated in our “Your Voice Matters” discussions recently! While in previous years, Aging Ahead has held “Public Hearings” in order to share agency information with the public we serve, we decided it was time for a change. This year, you spoke, we listened. Our new format allowed for us to hear from so many of you at a variety of Aging Ahead locations. We also felt it was important to gather feedback while having a valuable conversation about what it means to age ahead in our community.
“Your Voice Matters” was held throughout March and April at designated Aging Ahead locations, CHOICE program library branches, and our CHOICE COUNTS educational sessions in Franklin County at Frick’s Café. We heard from a wide variety of voices from diverse backgrounds and ages focusing on the opportunities and challenges of aging.
To get started, Aging Ahead discussion leaders asked the participants to define ‘aging’ in one word or phrase. The results varied from answers like, “Freedom,” “Surprising,” “Not for sissies,” and “Lonely.” “Your Voice Matters” encouraged each person to share their unique aging experience, strengthening the communal bonds formed throughout the discussion, and ultimately addressing the priorities of current and planned services.
Aging Ahead also shared a Report to the Community with those who attended the “Your Voice Matters” events. This report included information about our mission, our funding/estimated budget for 2020, service priorities report, services we offer, locations/contact information, board of directors, advisory council, foundation board, SHL, and website information.
The feedback we receive will be compiled and made available to community members on our blog as well as printed and circulated at all of our centers. The feedback will be written into our area plan and will be used to inform Aging Ahead’s programming.