Summit Focuses on Making Oregon More ‘Age-friendly’

Community leaders across the state gathered to strategize about how to support the state’s aging population at the Age-Friendly Oregon Summit.

Organized by AARP Oregon, the theme of this year’s summit was “Catalyzing Age-Friendly Futures.” The range of topics included transportation, financial wellness and housing.

AARP Oregon State Director Bandana Shrestha said there are more older people in the state than children for the first time ever, and that change will impact every sector.

“It calls for really rethinking how we do business in our state,” said Shrestha. “How do we plan? What kind of policies are necessary? What kind of programs are necessary to make sure that people of all ages can thrive?”

Shrestha said the summit brought elected officials as well as advocates for the young and old together to share what is working best in their communities to make them more age-friendly.

Jerry Conklin, co-founder and chairman South Morrow County Seniors Matter, spoke at the summit about his work opening a senior center in 2023.

The center provides meals, as well as many services and activities. Conklin said he’s found programs are helpful – but emphasized that the most important thing older people need, especially in rural communities, is people.

“Other people that they can identify with, other people that are going to encourage them, or sometimes even help them,” said Conklin. “So, building community becomes a really important thing.”

Many of the changes needed in Oregon will benefit people at any stage of life, not just seniors, Shrestha added. For example, she said designing more accessible transportation will also benefit people with disabilities or with young children.

“It’s about the shared interests of different groups of people,” said Shrestha. “And that’s what an age-friendly and livable community allows us to do.”

State economists forecast that by 2035, Oregon will have 40% more older adults than children.