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CHEMUNG COUNTYAge-Friendlycreating a great place to live and age well


Business & Organization Guide

A Publication of the Age-Friendly Chemung County Initiative

We are committed to making Chemung County an attractive place to live and age well. We envision a community that encourages active and healthy living and provides a more accessible, affordable and socially engaging place for people of all ages. Our coalition of dedicated citizens, organizations and government agencies has developed a plan to create Age-Friendly Chemung County. If you have any questions about the initiative or this guide, please call the Chemung County Department of Aging and Long Term Care at 737-5520 to find out how you can help and how we can help you!

AIM Independent Living Center

What are Age-Friendly Communities?

The World Health Organization Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities began as an international effort in 2006 to help communities prepare for a growing aging population.

AARP established an agreement with the World Health Organization to identify communities for membership and, in 2012, launched the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities.

In December 2012, Chemung County became the first upstate New York community to be admitted into the network and designated as Age-Friendly.

An Age-Friendly Community increases the functional capacity of older adults, strengthening and prolonging their capacity to contribute to the community, improving their quality of life, and reducing costly healthcare needs.

In 2016, the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Network included 287 cities and communities in 33 countries internationally, covering more than 113 million people. Those numbers will continue to rise.

Across the U.S., more than 90 communities (and counting!) have joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities.


Chemung Canal Trust CompanyKingsbury’s Cyclery

The world and Chemung County are encountering a growing aging population.

The Age-Friendly designation can be utilized as a marketing tool to attract and retain potential customers and clients, especially older adults. Tapping into this significant consumer base can help you increase your bottom line and maintain growth, while providing a valuable service.

Older adults benefit their communities economically. Some of the many examples include:• The over-55 population controls more than 75% of America’s wealth. • 92.5% of Chemung County residents over age 65 have incomes above the poverty level.• Nearly 80% of Chemung County householders over 60 own their homes and, of those, 70% have no mortgage.• Older adults are typically responsible, experienced, skilled and dependable workers, and they are an invaluable source of community volunteers.

An Age-Friendly Business or Organization truly benefits all ages and abilities, because features that support the needs and promote the contributions of older adults are beneficial to the entire population.

Being designated as Age-Friendly shows your potential customer base that you are sensitive to the needs of all who walk through your doors, and you strive to provide easy-to-navigate, respectful, positive and effective experiences and services to individuals of all ages.

An Age-Friendly designation also shows support for the vision of Chemung County as a community that encourages active and healthy living and provides a more accessible, affordable and socially engaging place for people of all ages.

What’s the Benefit of Being Designated as an Age-Friendly Business or Organization?CHEMUNG COUNTYAge-Friendlycreating a great place to live and age well

The Arc of Chemung’s bocce court Arnot Ogden Medical Center


Age-Friendly Business & Organization Application

If you are interested in being designated as an Age-Friendly Business or Organization, please review and complete this form and send it by mail,

fax or e-mail to:

Chemung County Department of Aging and Long Term Care, 425 Pennsylvania Ave., P.O. Box 588, Elmira, NY 14902

Fax: (607) 737-5521, e-mail: [email protected]

Business or Organization Name: _______________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Name & Title: _______________________________________________________________________

Phone Number or E-mail: __________________________________ Website: __________________________

Please Indicate if You Are a Business or Organization: ☐ Business ☐ Organization

To Qualify:

• Must be a business or organization located in or providing services in Chemung County. Designation criteria is outlined on the next page of this application.

The Process:

• After completing and returning this form and the following pages, you will be contacted by a representative of the Age-Friendly Chemung County Coalition. • The representative will schedule a mutually convenient time for a visit to your business to afford Age-Friendly representatives the opportunity to see some of your Age-Friendly qualities in action.• A panel will review your application and information gathered at the visit.• If approved, you will receive an Age-Friendly decal to formally designate your business or organization as Age-Friendly. You will also receive an electronic version of the logo. • Your business or organization will be listed and receive promotion on the Age-Friendly Chemung County website and Facebook page. • Your business or organization will be honored at the Older Americans Month Celebration in May, or the Chemung County Department of Aging and Long Term Care Public Hearing in September.

Please Indicate if You Have Multiple Locations You’d Like Designated: ☐ Yes ☐ No If yes, how many? ______

If yes, please list those locations in the “Comments” section located on Page Six of this application.


Age-Friendly Application - Page TwoIn each of the following categories, please check off the Age-Friendly

characteristics your business or organization possesses. To receive Age-Friendly designation, your business or organization must possess

at least 20 of the following characteristics, including at least two in each category (not including Services Offered). Any business with a physical location must have at least one wheelchair-accessible entrance to be considered Age-Friendly. Virtual-only businesses will be considered

on the categories that apply to them.

Physical Environment ☐ A wheelchair-accessible entrance. ☐ Enough parking, parking close to the building, and accessible parking.☐ A drop-off/pick-up area for customers.☐ Low curbs for easy sidewalk access.☐ Sidewalks, hallways and stairways that are clear from obstructions. ☐ Aisles within business or organization are wide enough for passing.☐ Easy-to-open or automatic doors.☐ A resting or waiting area with comfortable chairs for all ages, including mothers breastfeeding babies.☐ Chairs that can be easily moved to where people may need to sit.☐ A wheelchair-accessible restroom.☐ Adequate exterior lighting if open after dark.

Sound☐ Background noise that does not interfere with hearing or taking part in discussions.☐ If you play music, certain music-free hours that won’t interfere with an older adult’s ability to carry on conversations.☐ Clear public announcements spoken at a slow enough pace for easy understanding.☐ No loud music or harsh acoustics.☐ Quiet areas in your business or organization, such as specific tables that can be reserved.☐ Carpets or rugs, hanging tapestries, upholstered furniture, or soundboard walls or partitions that help absorb noise.☐ If you take on a construction project, you will strive to use sound-absorption and reduction measures.☐ Heavy walls and thick windows that keep traffic and outside noise to a minimum.☐ Keeping doors closed to noisier spaces.


Age-Friendly Application - Page ThreeIn each of the following categories, please check off the Age-Friendly

characteristics your business or organization possesses.

Verbal Communication☐ Employees that speak in a clear and respectful voice, without overly exaggerating tones, simplifying words, or speaking too loudly to help an older adult hear.☐ Private conversations ensured when necessary.☐ Employee awareness to repeat himself or herself if necessary; an older adult may wish for a question to be repeated, but may be too embarrassed to ask.☐ Employee awareness to get an older adult’s attention before speaking.☐ Employee awareness to lower the pitch of his or her voice when speaking to someone who has difficulty hearing, and to be conscious that words with F, S, K and SH sounds are sometimes particularly difficult.

Customer Service and Preparedness☐ Assistance is available for reaching or accessing items.☐ Employees will offer to read materials aloud or help anyone who appears to be struggling.☐ Audio recordings or Braille in offices, room numbers, departments, building directories, elevator call buttons, and the panels by the elevator door.☐ Employees trained in first aid response in case of medical emergency.☐ Employees trained to identify someone who needs physical assistance or is being physically or financially abused, with contact info for organizations that can help these individuals.☐ Delivery options for homebound individuals and pick-up options for those who have trouble getting around/navigating your business.☐ Breastfeeding mothers are always welcome and respected, and are never asked to stop breastfeeding or cover up more.☐ Accommodations are made for children, such as high chairs and booster seats in restaurants; changing tables in rest rooms; and/or books and toys.


Age-Friendly Application - Page FourIn each of the following categories, please check off the Age-Friendly

characteristics your business or organization possesses.

Visibility☐ Large, clear subtitles for videos and other multimedia that is important to your business.☐ Written instructions in addition to verbal instructions for customers.☐ Good lighting, as older adults require three times the light to see as younger people, and well-lit environments allow older eyes to rest.☐ Non-glare lighting, shades on lights, or indirect or filtered lighting.☐ Small direct task lights over areas where reading or other visually demanding tasks are necessary.

Marketing, Design and Web Presence☐ Provide discounts and promote products and services of interest to older adults, include older adults in ads, and make sure your ads reach older adults.☐ Package products in a range of sizes.☐ Host special senior days or hours during the day devoted to service of older adults.☐ Utilize word of mouth advertising and community bulletin boards.☐ Openly show support of activities and events for older adults.☐ Include an easy-to-find phone number where a caller can talk to a person, not a machine.☐ Use shorter video segments and other media so they will load more quickly on older computers. ☐ Include easy-to-find instructions for web users who are less technologically savvy.☐ Include an easy text resize option on your website.☐ Use clean, easy-to-read fonts.☐ Utilize margins and space between lines of text. ☐ Avoid using colors that are in close proximity on the color wheel. ☐ Design color materials with effective contrast using vivid colors. ☐ Use simple designs and avoid patterned backgrounds.


Age-Friendly Application - Page FiveIf your business or organization provides Age-Friendly services,

please check off any services provided.

Services Offered☐ Outdoor Spaces and Buildings: Clean and safe community centers, parks, or other recreational facilities.☐ Transportation: Public and private transportation options or advocacy for safe streets and roads, bike routes, sidewalks and walking paths.☐ Housing: Safe and affordable housing or home modification assistance that supports aging in the community, and housing that is accessible to transportation or community services.☐ Social Participation: Leisure or social activities.☐ Respect and Social Inclusion: Services that support and respect aging, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity, multigenerational interaction, or caregiver needs.☐ Civic Participation and Employment: Opportunities for employment, education, volunteering and community engagement, regardless of age or disability.☐ Communication and Information: Providing access to libraries, newspapers and newsletters, computers and the Internet, and other information sources to keep older adults connected to their community and family.☐ Community Support and Health Services: Healthcare, homecare or other programs that promote wellness and active aging.☐ Other: Please describe: ___________________________________________________

These characteristics are based on the 8 domains identified by the World Health Organization as important to an Age-Friendly Community.


Age-Friendly Application - Page SixPlease provide a brief description of your business or organization. If you

are designated as Age-Friendly, this description will be utilized in the formal presentation of the designation.

You may also use this space for a written description of how your business or organization strives to be Age-Friendly. Additionally, if you are a business

or organization with multiple locations you’d like designated, please list those locations here. Attach additional typed or handwritten sheets

if needed.

ReferencesThe Age-Friendly Chemung County Initiative would like to thank the following organizations

for helpful information in creating this Age-Friendly Business & Organization Guide:

Comments___________________________________________________________________________________

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Age-Friendly New York City: http://www.agefriendlynyc.org/docs/AgeFriendlyBusinessGuide.pdfAge-Friendly Thunder Bay: http://www.agefriendlythunderbay.ca/business-guide.html


Age-Friendly Application - Page SevenPlease state your committment to the Age-Friendly Business or Organization

designation, and the vision of Chemung County as an Age-Friendly Community, by filling out the section below.

This commitment statement should be signed by your business or organization President, Executive Director or Chief Executive Officer.

We are committed to making our business or organization Age-Friendly by striving to provide easy-to-navigate, respectful,

positive and effective experiences and services to our community.

We support the vision of Chemung County as a community that encourages active and healthy living and provides a more accessible,

affordable and socially engaging place for all ages and abilities.

We will notify the Chemung County Department of the Aging Director of any significant changes that affect our ability

to be Age-Friendly.

Signature: ______________________________ Date: _______

Print Name: __________________ Title: ___________________

Phone: ______________ E-mail: _________________________

Please note that The Chemung County Age-Friendly Community Coalition does not claim to assess whether a business or organization is ADA-compliant, or otherwise compliant with any other Federal, State or Local standard. Similarly, our finding that a business or organization is Age-Friendly is an opinion and does not mean that a business’s or organization’s services or property have been endorsed, or that we have made a

determination as to ongoing competency in performing services.


Age-Friendly Application - Page EightBelow are examples of the decals that will be provided if your business

or organization is designated as Age-Friendly. If you are a business, you will receive the decal on the left. If you are an organization, you will receive the one on the right.

Decals are 3’’W x 5’’H with a white background. The adhesive is located on the back to allow for placement on many different types of possible surfaces,

including windows, bulletin boards, signs, etc. You will also receive an electronic version of the logo for marketing purposes.

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