Aging Inspired
Aging Inspired
Meets the 1st Tuesday of every month starting at 8:30 am via TEAMS.
Aging Inspired Initiative
Purpose: An informal group in Lebanon County comprised of volunteers and professionals who provide services to seniors, concerned about the changing demographics in our county with a growing elder population. This follows both national and state trends, as members of the Baby Boom generation age. It is anticipated that by 2025, 29% of the population of Lebanon County will be over age 60. Communities across the nation are being encouraged to plan for this change.
Mission: “The Aging Inspired Initiative (formerly known as Age Wave) of Lebanon County is a group of volunteer businesses; health care and aging service professionals concerned with the changing demographics of the Baby Boom generation and advocating for those new or additional services that may be needed”.
Background/History: Began meeting early in 2012. Different issues and resources are required for a community that is aging. Looking at new, innovative and creative models of care and services.
The organization was originally called the “Age Wave” but it was requested to change the name in 2022 when Ken Dychtwald (https://agewave.com/) requested it.
Funding: In kind support from businesses, organizations and agencies in Lebanon County.
Organization: Co-chairs support a group of professionals and community volunteers
Work Performed By: Community volunteers, local organizations, businesses and service agencies
Current Goals/Initiatives:
• Make Lebanon County a welcoming and age‐friendly community.
• Educate all age groups of Lebanon County about the importance of planning for life's transitions during the aging process.
• Encourage community professionals to develop creative solutions to the challenges such as an increasing senior population,
lack of housing for seniors senior friendly transportation, education, employment, volunteerism, healthcare, and long-term care.
• Educated hundreds of Lebanon County residents on the Advanced Care Planning process
• Pursue designation as a Dementia Friendly Community.
• Produce, Print and Distribute a Dementia Resource Pocket Guide
• Continue to update the comprehensive Dementia Friendly Resource Guide (linked online)
• Convene a Dementia Task Force
• Community Training of ACP Counselors in our community (Respecting Choices)
• Continuing to meet as an Aging Inspired Task Force, pulling stakeholders together monthly
• Create and Convene an Adult Abuse Task Force
Also have a dedicated sub-committee for Advanced Care Planning. The Advance Care Planning Coalition of Aging Inspired helps
community organizations, such as clubs and churches, provide FREE educational events about Advance Care Planning to
groups throughout Lebanon County.
ACP GOALS:
• Develop at least 6 new events/presentations with community groups
• Provide more one-on-one assistance in developing Advance Care Plans through the WellSpan staff and by certifying,
through training, a small team of volunteers willing to provide these services in the name of the ACP Coalition
• Provide 6 Death Cafés via Zoom, and additional if and when requested
• Hold at least 2 “Community ACP Events” in the Community (UPMC + ?) – to which we would invite key representatives
from various community organizations, in addition to the public-at-large
• Widen the network of “promoters of our services” through contact with the boards on which Coalition members sit or are
familiar (CHC, Bar Assn, AAA, Aging Inspired, WellSpan, etc.)
• Provide monthly outreach meetings at AAA for the ACP
Progress to Date:
• Formed a steering committee and subcommittees for 4 topics (housing, transportation, health/long term care and lifelong learning).
• Worked with Lebanon County Planning to introduce zoning changes to local municipalities allowing for Accessory Dwelling
Units in Residential neighborhoods.
• Introduced “Take 5 to Feel Alive” exercise concept to encourage daily exercise in small 5-minute intervals.
• Introduced PA Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) to local hospitals and Emergency Medical Professionals
• Cooperated with Lebanon Valley College Physical Therapy Department in a program of exercise involving residents
of local retirement communities.
• Prepared and distributed flyers highlighting resources for seniors in educational, volunteer, and employment opportunities.
• Presented workshops at the annual 50+ Festival.
• Presented two sessions of the Aging Mastery Program, a ten-week classroom program designed to help older adults make
and sustain small but impactful changes in their lives that will improve their quality of life at a time when most experience longer
lives than ever before.
• Educated hundreds of Lebanon County residents on the Advanced Care Planning process
• Convene and become designated as a Dementia Friendly Community
• Produce, Print and Distribute a Dementia Pocket Guide
• Produce and update a comprehensive Dementia Friendly Resource Guide (linked online)
• Convene a Dementia Task Force
• Community Training of ACP Counselors in our community (Respecting Choices)
• Continuing to meet as an Aging Inspired Task Force, pulling stakeholders together monthly
• Create and convene a county wide Adult Abuse Task Force
Chair/Contact:
Adrian Layser- Administrator, Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging 717-273-9262