City of Winnemucca, Nevada

• Project Title: Age-Friendly Community
• Program Representative Interviewed: Gini Cunningham, Winnemucca Alzheimer's Support Group; Age-Friendly and Dementia-Friendly Winnemucca/Humboldt County Project Coordinator
• Location: Winnemucca, Nevada
• Program Overview: As part of a volunteer-initiated and led effort, the town of Winnemucca, NV held a town hall meeting in September of 2016 where aging issues, especially issues around dementia and driving, were highlighted as a priority. After those discussions, key stakeholders realized that taking the car keys away from someone to prevent driving is an insufficient solution if other services and assistance are not provided. Following that, the community of Winnemucca joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities and is working with its community members and leaders to make Winnemucca an "Age-Friendly" and "Dementia-Friendly" community. Volunteers meet monthly to design action steps toward those goals. Efforts include:
  
  
  • Creating pleasant outdoor spaces
  • Adequate transportation
  • Affordable housing
  • Social events with senior inclusion
  • Civic participation opportunities
  • Health services
  • Caregiver support
  • Communication systems for those who are aging in place
  The program was initiated and is run by volunteers. It also has the support of the mayor and other local officials and agencies. The program has also begun to secure grant funding to support and sustain its efforts. For example, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Aging and Disability Services Division supported Winnemucca's initiative with an Independent Living Grant to provide community support to delay or prevent institutionalization of older Nevadans.

Models represented by this program:

• Housing Models
• Transportation Models
• Social Engagement and Community Support Models
• Age-Friendly Community Models