On October 21, more than forty community members gathered in the bright community room of the Greenfield Public Library—also a partner and advocate organization for Age & Dementia Friendly communities—to share ideas, celebrate local progress, and imagine what comes next. Hosted by LifePath, the Age & Dementia Friendly Regional Showcase brought together voices from across Franklin County and the North Quabbin to highlight how collaboration across sectors is creating real, measurable change for people of all ages and abilities.
Funded by the Point32 Health Foundation and the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Funds, the event demonstrated the regional Age & Dementia Friendly initiative’s move from a multi-year planning phase into active implementation. That progress—and the breadth of local projects now taking shape—can be explored on the Age & Dementia Friendly website, where an interactive map shows accomplishments and ongoing work across the region.
Panelists representing housing, higher education, land conservation, libraries, and senior centers shared how their organizations are advancing Age and Dementia Friendly principles through practical, community-driven strategies. Together, they paint a picture of a region working collectively to create policy, systems, and environmental change that supports aging well—whether through housing design, accessible outdoor spaces, or lifelong learning.
Mariah Kurtz, Livability Planner at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG), opened the panel with reflections on the link between housing and healthy aging. She described the challenges many rural towns face: an aging housing stock, limited infrastructure, and increasing costs that make it difficult for older residents to remain in their communities. Through FRCOG’s Franklin County Regional Housing Plan and other collaborative efforts, Kurtz and her colleagues are helping municipalities adapt zoning, attract development, and plan for homes that meet the needs of residents at every stage of life.
Matt Dibona, Director of Land Stewardship at Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, offered a glimpse of how accessibility is reshaping the way people experience nature. Among Mount Grace’s many conservation areas, Alderbrook Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary in Northfield and Eagle Reserve in Royalston stand out for their accessible trails—wide, stable, and gently graded so visitors of all abilities can enjoy the outdoors comfortably.
Through an Age & Dementia Friendly Community Grant from LifePath, Mount Grace is installing clear trail signage (a key feature of accessible design) at Alderbrook Meadows and installing age-friendly benches to make rest points more usable for older adults and people living with dementia and/or mobility challenges. As Dibona noted, accessibility isn’t just an amenity—it’s central to the organization’s mission to make the outdoors welcoming to all.
Judy Raper, Associate Dean for Community Engagement at Greenfield Community College, spoke about the GCC’s OASIS (Older Adults Seeking, Inspiring, and Serving) lifelong learning initiative, which centers higher education on older adults and connects generations through learning, volunteerism, and creativity. From intergenerational book clubs to the Backyard Oasis podcast, OASIS challenges assumptions about aging and higher education.
Jennifer Ferrara, Director of the South County Senior Center, described how the Center has become a hub for local Age & Dementia Friendly transformation. Under Ferrara’s leadership and in partnership with UMass Boston’s Center for Demography on Aging, the center gathered town officials, first responders, experts in aging, and residents to develop priorities ranging from accessibility and safety to social inclusion. The resulting community action plan is shaping how Deerfield, Sunderland, and Whately design public spaces and engage residents in local decision-making. Click here for more details about Jennifer’s work.
The panel also included Abigail Baines, Director of the Erving Public Library, who emphasized the vital role libraries play in community connection and equity. As both a public space and a trusted source of information, libraries are natural partners in Age & Dementia Friendly work—offering accessible environments, technology support, and programs that bring generations together regardless of the differences they bring through the library door.
As the conversation continued, attendees reflected on how these projects demonstrate the power of partnership: towns and organizations aligning their work toward shared goals outlined in the Age & Dementia Friendly Franklin County and North Quabbin Regional Action Plan. From new Memory Cafés and digital-equity programs to accessible benches and volunteer transportation networks, the region is seeing what happens when creativity and commitment meet coordinated strategy.
The Showcase also marked the launch of new ways to get involved. The new Age & Dementia Friendly Council brings together residents, local leaders, and people with lived experience to guide implementation of the regional plan, set policy priorities, network, and review progress through an equity lens. Meetings will rotate among towns across Franklin County and the North Quabbin, with stipends provided to honor members’ time and expertise.
The second opportunity is to serve as a Community Grant Reviewer, helping evaluate proposals for the next round of ADF Community Grants. Reviewers lend their perspective and expertise to ensure funding decisions reflect local priorities and strengthen collaboration across sectors. It’s a hands-on way to support innovation while learning about the creative work already happening across the region.
These opportunities depend on input from people with a range of perspectives; people living with disabilities, people of color, LGBTQIA+ folks, veterans, caregivers, justice-involved communities, and more.
Join the Age & Dementia Friendly movement!
As the conversations continued, one message resonated through the room: Franklin County and the North Quabbin are proving what’s possible when communities plan intentionally for aging and dementia. Whether it’s a trail, a classroom, or a town common, Age & Dementia Friendly change begins with listening and grows through partnership.
