Age & Dementia Friendly Program

What are Age & Dementia Friendly communities?

This region-wide effort makes our communities welcoming, accessible, and inclusive for people of all ages—especially older adults and those living with dementia.

Using frameworks developed by the World Health Organization and AARP, our approach is tailored to local needs and driven by the voices of residents, caregivers, and community leaders.

We look at housing, transportation, social connections, outdoor spaces, and more—all through the lens of aging and cognitive health. People living in Age & Dementia Friendly communities are active, engaged, and supported—whether they’re 8 or 88.

We’re making progress…

Something missing from this map? Contact us and we’ll include it!

What we do

Technical assistance:

We consult with your organization on how to be more Age & Dementia Friendly at no cost. Areas of expertise include:

Network building & connections
Promotion of events and initiatives
Policy Planning for towns & municipalities
Identifying funding and grant support
Launch and grow a Village organization
Program planning & evaluation advice

Funding:

Fund your best ideas through Age & Dementia Friendly Community Awards.

These awards are short-term, one-time grants that improve the capacity or enhance the built environment of specific local communities as welcoming places for people of all ages to live by identifying and mitigating systemic inequities. Successful proposals will demonstrate a positive impact on at least one of these domains, and applicants are encouraged to consider projects that advance the Action Steps associated with each domain and detailed in the Age & Dementia-Friendly Action Plan (see page 21 for a quick reference).

Key Dates (Anticipated)
Request for Proposals Announced	December 1, 2026
Proposals Due	February 1, 2027
Decisions Announced	March 1, 2027

Training:

Looking for training or workshops on brain health, age bias, fraud prevention, accessible design, or other topics related to aging and dementia? Expert presenters provide free, customizable training options for your staff, volunteers, or to enhance your events.

Contact Jason Molony, Age & Dementia Friendly Program director, at 413-829-9198 or jmolony@lifepathma.org for more information.

Get involved

Become an Age & Dementia Council Member or Age & Dementia Friendly Grant Reviewer
Sign up for the newsletter
Apply for an Age & Dementia Friendly Community Grant

Resources

The history of Age & Dementia Friendly Franklin County and North Quabbin

Newsletters

December 2025—Community Grant
November 2025—Regional Showcase Event, Community Grant Announcement
September 2025—Intergenerational Shutesbury
July 2025—Backyard Oasis Podcast
June 2025—South County Senior Center
May 2025—Community Grant Awardees
March 2025—Village Forum
January 2025—Funding Announcement
December 2024—Community grant announcement, ADF highlights
November 2024—New Age & Dementia Friendly Program Director Jason Molony
September 2024—Grant announcement, statewide Age-Friendly Plan
June 2024—Selectboard meeting updates, upcoming trainings
December 2023—AARP Designation, Ageism
June 2023—Project update, event invite, transportation and education opportunities
March 2023—Workgroups and Action Planning
Sept. 2022—Focus groups and data analysis
June 30, 2022—Program Manager Departure
April 7, 2022—Survey Update, Public Health Nurse Particiation, Town Enrollment Update
September 1, 2021—Needs Assessment and Enrollment Updates
June 25, 2021—AARP Designation, Funding Opportunity, and Healthy Aging Spotlight
March 23, 2021—AARP Designation, Funding Opportunity, Training Opportunities and Healthy Aging Spotlight