More than 350 people attended the very successful first regional Livable Communities conference on Oct. 2, 2009 where they heard local and national experts speak about livable communities and took part in 13 workshops led by local and national experts in the field.

The day-long event took place at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, and the workshops covered topics such as caregiving, multigenerational programs, planning and zoning, affordable housing, universal design, technology, transportation, legal and financial issues and workforce development. 

"Livable Communities: A Vision for All Ages – Connecting People and Places” was presented by Westchester County’s Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS) and the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services. The Livable Communities initiative is DSPS’ signature project.

The cutting-edge event brought together a variety of consumers, professionals, elected officials, organizations, businesses and institutions that covered a wide range of disciplines across the aging services industry. 

The goal of the Livable Communities initiative is to provide a better quality of life for people of all ages and to enable seniors to remain in their homes as they age with dignity, independence and civic involvement.

Key features of livable communities are health and wellness programs, education and cultural events, support services such as transportation, personal safety, consumer protection and advocacy for affordable housing and safe sidewalks and roads.

Elinor Ginzler, senior vice president of Livable Communities Strategies for AARP, spoke on "Livable Communities: Where We Are, Where We Are Going." Panel moderators and panelists included Robert McNulty, executive director of Partners for Livable Communities, a national pioneer in the movement, and Michael Burgess, director of the New York State Office for the Aging.

Sandra Timmermann, EdD, executive director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute spoke about two reports the Institute had just published with the National Association of Home Builders: “55-Plus Housing: Builders, Buyers and Beyond” and “Housing for the 55-Plus Market." Other speakers were Sandy Markwood, chief executive officer of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging; Sandra Timmermann, executive director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute and Rabbi Jay Miller, executive director of the Peninsula Clergy Network (PCN) in San Mateo, Calif. PCN is a network of 440 clergy from all faiths who work to enhance interaction between clergy and communities. ”

Among the local speakers were Commissioner Delores Scott Brathwaite of the County’s Human Rights Commission, Commissioner Joshua Lipsman, JD, MD, of the County’s Department of Health and William M. Mooney, Jr., president of the Westchester County Association.

Other local speakers included Commissioner Lawrence Salley of the Westchester County Department of Transportation; Camille Murphy, director of the Office for Women and William Brady, an associate planner with the Department of Planning.

DSPS’ national award-winning initiative has been identified by AARP as one of three model programs in the United States.

It is important the county develop Livable Communities because its population is aging very rapidly. Today there are 187,000 people age 60 or older in Westchester. That’s 20 percent of the total population or one in five people. The county’s planning department says that by 2030 people over 60 will represent 25 percent of the population – or one in four people.

DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter said the conference offered participants a unique opportunity to learn about vital issues and provided a framework for them to act. Also, she said, it is an example of what President Obama is calling for in his “United We Serve” initiative where he asks Americans to commit themselves to volunteer service in their daily lives.

“This is truly a citizen-empowerment program,” Carpenter said. “You can empower yourself with information and knowledge and become an advocate for needed changes. It can greatly expand the horizon of everyone.

The not-for-profit Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services organized a large exhibit area for the conference, which focused on products and services that support and enable seniors to remain in their homes. It also underscored the vital role that technology pays in livable communities.

The Partnership is a dynamic coalition of government, business, voluntary service agencies and consumers that addresses quality-of-life issues that affect older people in Westchester County.

Co-sponsors who underwrote the conference were AARP, the Hebrew Home for the Aged at Riverdale, the New York Southern Area Aging Network (NY-SAAN), Optimum Lightpath, Senior Service America, the Visiting Nurse Association of Hudson Valley, Visiting Nurse Services in Westchester, the Westchester Benefit Group Inc. and the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services.