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Simsbury Age-Friendly subcommittee sets Sept. 18 Aging‑in‑Place Expo, reviews AARP grant and action-plan progress
Summary
The Aging and Disability Commission’s Age‑Friendly Community Subcommittee met May 5 and agreed to invite additional vendors and community partners to the Sept. 18 Aging‑in‑Place Expo, noted a submitted AARP Community Challenge Grant application, and referred a proposed caregivers support group to the full commission for further consideration.
Jan Beatty, chairperson of the Age‑Friendly Community Subcommittee of the Simsbury Aging and Disability Commission, called the subcommittee to order via Zoom at 2:30 p.m. on May 5, 2026. The group recorded no public comments, accepted the April 7 minutes (moved by Edward J. LaMontagne, seconded by Libby Easton‑May; all voted in favor), and proceeded to old-business items focused on outreach and events for older residents.
The subcommittee confirmed plans for this year’s Aging‑in‑Place Expo, scheduled for Sept. 18, 2026. Jan Beatty said the subcommittee can add two additional tables this year and recommended inviting the Simsbury Housing Authority. Beatty noted that a dietician from Farmington Valley Nutrition, Amy Woodman, and representatives from the Simsbury Police Department indicated they would participate. Edward J. LaMontagne said he will coordinate design input for a resource‑guide magnet with Trailhead Printing and consult Simsbury Social Services on content.
The group reviewed an AARP Community Challenge Grant application that had been completed in the Town Manager’s office and submitted by the March 4 deadline; Tom Fitzgerald handled the application and the town expected notification on selection in mid‑May. Members also agreed that letters inviting prior vendors to the Expo would be sent shortly.
Under new business, Shannon Leary of Simsbury Community Media offered to place awareness‑month ads and air subcommittee information on SCM at no cost. The subcommittee also reviewed progress on its Action Plan domains: Edward J. LaMontagne reported the Simsbury Police Department had completed the action items assigned to it, and the group agreed to continue reviewing the plan to document completed items and identify tasks still in progress or needing addition.
After discussion, members decided the proposed Caregivers Support Group should be placed on the agenda of the full Aging and Disability Commission for consideration rather than handled as a subcommittee project. Beatty summarized takeaways from an AARP Age‑Friendly webinar ("Places with Purpose: Built for Belonging"), including examples of a refurbished plaza in Aibonito, Puerto Rico, and the All Access Main Street coalition model for working with businesses to be more age‑friendly.
The meeting adjourned at 3:35 p.m. The subcommittee’s next meeting is scheduled for June 2, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. via Zoom.
