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Healthy Aging Cape Cod presents action plan and new work groups to commissioners
Summary
County officials described Healthy Aging Cape Cod’s priorities, including digital equity, volunteer coordination and older‑adult housing; the initiative is preparing an action plan to submit to state networks this year.
Mandy Speakman, deputy director of Barnstable County Department of Human Services and co‑chair of Healthy Aging Cape Cod, briefed commissioners on the coalition’s work groups and planning timeline.
"By 2030, approximately half of Barnstable County residents will be over the age of 60," Mandy said, using county demographic projections to frame the urgency of the initiative. She described three active work groups — volunteer coordination, digital equity and older‑adult housing — and said the coalition entered both the state age‑friendly and dementia‑friendly network processes in 2025.
Mandy said the volunteer group is exploring a shared database to connect local organizations with skilled volunteers; the digital equity group is targeting internet access, hardware and digital literacy to reduce isolation and support telehealth; and the housing working group is studying options to expand one‑bedroom and studio units for older adults. She said the coalition includes more than 30 stakeholder organizations across municipal, nonprofit and private sectors and that an action plan will be submitted to state leads (AARP and MCOA) by the end of the calendar year.
Commissioners highlighted the high costs of long‑term care and in‑home support — Commissioner Bergstrom noted that in‑home care can run “between $30 and $40 an hour” — and emphasized that keeping people healthy and connected can reduce financial burdens. Commissioners supported continued county facilitation of the coalition’s strategic plan and outreach activities.
Mandy closed by underlining the coalition’s focus on lifespan versus health span, and the county’s role in coordinating stakeholders to keep older residents engaged, safe and housed where possible.
