LifePath is now seeking proposals for projects that support our region’s Age & Dementia Friendly communities—where older adults and residents of all ages can enjoy greater well-being, connectivity, and belonging. With generous support from Point32 Health Foundation, the second annual Age & Dementia Community Grant program seeks your leadership to make your Franklin County and North Quabbin community a place where everyone can age well.
These grants are designed to help local communities improve their buildings, public spaces, policies, programs, and more, making them welcoming and equitable for everyone, no matter their age or ability.
The Age & Dementia Friendly framework defines 8 key domains: Outdoor Spaces and Buildings, Transportation, Housing, Social Participation, Respect and Social Inclusion, Civic Participation and Employment, Communication and Information, and Health Services and Community Supports. Successful proposals will demonstrate a positive impact on at least one, and applicants are encouraged to consider projects that advance the Action Steps associated with each, detailed in the Age & Dementia Friendly Action Plan.
Franklin County and North Quabbin-based towns, libraries, Councils on Aging, Senior Centers, Village model organizations, businesses, and other for-profit and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply, including past applicants. Proposals are due February 1, 2026.
Your proposals will be reviewed by older adults and people with lived experience, as well as local professionals in the field of aging and dementia. A rigorous, fair, and equity-focused evaluation process ensures that selected projects yield a wide and lasting impact. Anyone can and should apply—we believe the people and organizations in our region know what’s best for the communities they serve, and we are happy to work with you to envision or refine your proposal. Professional-level grant writing not required!
Examples of future projects might include:
- Programming that fosters social connectedness and reduces social isolation.
- Hiring a facilitator to lead a workgroup, focus group, or listening session on a topic of significant local relevance to older adults and disseminating the findings to the public.
- Improvements to accessibility and walkability of public spaces.
- Marketing campaigns, newsletters, guidebooks, websites, or other methods to encourage awareness of existing resources, services, and engagement opportunities.
- Innovative solutions to address barriers to safe, reliable transportation for older adults.
- Intergenerational programming such as book clubs, photo voice projects, interviews between older adults and young people, dance lessons, etc.
- Updates to the physical space of a restaurant or retail business to better accommodate people of all ages, including people living with dementia.
- Support for a new or existing senior tax workoff policy to reduce tax burden and increase civic engagement in your town.
- Hiring a consultant to advise on universal design for new or retrofit housing.
- Audio equipment and other technology to encourage accessibility in civic participation.
Last year, over $35,000 was distributed to the following 11 organizations across the region, supported by funding from the Point32 Health Foundation and the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Network, a project of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG):
- Greenfield Council on Aging: Supporting volunteers in the development of The Greenfield Neighborhood, which will provide transportation and other services to promote aging in place.
- Greenfield Housing Authority: Supporting older residents with social programming and memory support, and adding two customized computers for resident use.
- Leverett Library: Installing a dementia-friendly “Happy to Chat Bench” to foster connection and intergenerational conversation.
- Mass in Motion/Age-Friendly Conway Committee: Supporting the creation of a home repair resource portal for older adults and an on-demand senior transportation service, improving access to daily needs, events, and social opportunities.
- Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust: Installing ADA-compliant benches along the Alderbrook Trail to improve access for older adults and those with limited mobility.
- Northfield Senior Center: Expanding the Memory Cafés to offer free meals, performances, and additional sessions, providing inclusive welcoming experiences for people with memory loss and their caregivers.
- Rowe Council on Aging: Increasing access and connection through the purchase of equipment to support cultural and fitness programming for people of all abilities.
- Shelburne Senior Center: Enhancing caregiver support and the Memory Café program by providing entertainment, speakers, and a comprehensive caregiver resource brochure.
- Town of Ashfield: Increasing civic engagement through the purchase of assistive listening technology for use at civic meetings and other events at Town Hall.
- Town of Athol: Creating accessible outdoor seating adjacent to the Athol Senior Center and North Quabbin Regional Veterans Center.
- Village Neighbors: Expanding dementia-friendly services in four towns through caregiver education, volunteer training, transportation support for older adults, people living with dementia, and caregivers.
To submit your proposal, scan the QR code above or click here. Technical assistance in developing proposals is available at no cost, and questions are encouraged. Please contact me at jmolony@lifepathma.org or call (413) 829-9198.
