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From YouTube: Commissioners Corner - Emily Shea, Elderly Affairs
Description
On this episode of Commissioners Corner, host Najya Mawasi and Emily Shea, the City of Boston's Commissioner on Affairs of the Elderly, discuss how Boston is adapting to a growing senior population and how Shea's team is always working to create opportunities to keep seniors engaged in their communities.
Did you know that if you are a Boston resident over the age of 60 and in need a ride to your doctor's appointment, you can call 311 and ask for a ride? Our Senior Shuttle will come pick you up.
For more information, check out boston.gov/elderly
A
If
you're
an
older
adult
living
in
the
city
of
Boston,
today's
show
is
all
about
YOU.
Mayor
Walsh
in
his
administration
have
heard
your
concerns
and
interests.
A
thoughtful
age-friendly
blueprint
is
well
underway
to
address
your
particular
needs.
You
may
be
familiar
with
our
in-studio
guest
Emily
Shay.
She
was
one
of
our
first
guests
on
commissioners
corner
Emily.
Shay
has
been
serving
as
commissioner
on
affairs
of
the
elderly
for
the
City
of
Boston.
Since
2011
she
was
reappointed
by
Mayor
Walsh
in
2014.
A
The
Commission
serves
as
Boston's
Area
Agency
on
Aging
and
Boston's
Council
on
Aging.
The
Commission
sets
the
city's
direction
for
successful
aging
in
Boston.
Today
we
will
learn
how
the
Commission
plans
to
create
an
environment
in
which
older
adults
can
continue
to
lead
healthy
and
productive
lives
in
Boston.
Thank
you.
So
much
Emily
Shay.
B
B
A
B
A
B
Sure
so
you
know
we
have
in
Boston
we
have
over
a
hundred
and
five
thousand
people
over
60
living
in
the
city,
and
so
it's
important
that
there
is
an
organization
at
a
city
level.
That's
really
focused
on
how
we
make
life
as
high
quality
of
life
as
possible
for
people
over
the
age
of
60,
and
so
those
are
some
of
our
beginnings.
And
since
then,
we've
developed
a
lot
of
programs
and
services
that
we
provide.
B
So
we
provide
a
significant
amount
of
direct
services
to
older
adults,
things
like
transportation
events
and
programs
throughout
the
city
that
people
can
get
engaged
volunteer
programs.
We
have
over
400
people
over
55
engaged
with
us
and
in
program
sites
throughout
the
city,
giving
back
to
the
city
using
their
skills
and
talents,
and-
and
we
do
we
do
so
much
more.
We
help
constituents
get
connected
to
resources
and
information.
We
help
we
help
them
access
benefits
programs
if
they
need
those
and
so
many
more
things.
What.
A
B
So
for
our
age
friendly
plan,
we
actually
went
out
through
the
community
we
heard
from
over
4,000
older
adults.
So
we
heard
from
a
lot
of
folks
about
what
they
loved
in
the
city,
but
also
what
some
of
their
concerns
and
challenges
are,
and
so
things
that
they
mention.
Is
they
really
want
a
city
where
they
can
stay
safe
and
continue
living
in
their
neighborhoods
for
as
long
as
they
want
to
do
that?
B
You
know
people
are
very
connected
to
their
neighborhoods
in
Boston
and
they
want
to
stay
connected
to
the
places
and
the
people
that
they
know
and
they
love.
So
we
heard
a
lot
of
people
saying
things
like
that.
We
heard
that
folks
want
to
be
able
to
get
where
they
need
to
go
when
they
need
to
go
there
right,
so
transportation
really
thinking
about
how
we
make
sure
that
someone
can
get
not
just
to
a
doctor's
appointment,
but
also
to
the
other
places
they
want
to
go
to
stay
engaged.
B
We
heard
a
lot
about
from
people
about
wanting
things
to
do
so.
Thinking
that
you
know,
Boston
is
a
city
that
has
so
much
to
offer,
but
that
sometimes
they
don't
know
where
to
look
for
information
they're,
not
sure
how
to
get
connected
to
programs
into
things
going
on,
and
so
we're
really
thinking
about.
How
can
we
streamline
some
of
that
information
and
make
sure
that
people
have
access
to
it?
What.
A
B
This
is
a
really
exciting
initiative.
When
mayor
Walsh
came
into
office,
you
know
he
was
a
state
rep
before
he
was
at
the
city,
so
he
he
heard
from
a
lot
of
older
adults
about
things
that
they
wanted
and
we
were
hearing
from
a
lot
of
older
adults.
So
we
put
our
heads
together
and
really
thought
about.
You
know
what
can
we
do
as
a
city
not
just
to
provide
the
the
services
that
we
provide,
but
also
to
think
about?
How
do
we
change
things
and
make
things
better?
B
B
How
do
you
get
information
and
process
information,
so
communication
thinking
about
things
like
social
participation
in
being
a
part
of
community?
So
we
talked
about
all
of
those
things.
We
then
used
a
community
process
to
put
together
a
seventy-five
step,
action
plan
that
we're
doing
in
the
next
in
three.
A
B
B
So
I'll
tell
you
a
few
things
that
we
did
in
our
year.
One
of
the
plan.
We
we
heard
from
older
adults
that
they
don't
always
hear
to
feel
that
their
voices
are
listened
to
by
policymakers,
and
so
we
worked
with
them
to
create
something
called
a
Civic
Academy.
So
we
took
a
older
adults
applied
to
be
a
part
of
the
Civic
Academy
and
they
spent
20
hours
with
us
really
learning
about
how
to
navigate
and
talk
to
policymakers
at
both
a
city,
a
state
and
a
federal
level,
learning
specific
advocacy
skills.
B
They
practice
things
like
elevator
speeches
and
learned
about
issues
impacting
older
adults
and
and
I.
You
know
we
heard
a
lot
of
people
say
you
know.
I
I've
had
a
lot
to
say,
but
I
haven't
always
had
the
skills
and
the
knowledge
that
I
need
to
be
able
to
say
them
to
the
right
people
to
make
the
change,
and
so
this
program
really
helped
with
that
great.
What.
B
So
I'll
talk
about
a
couple
of
things
that
we
heard
in
our
H
friendly
work.
That
also
then
turned
into
kind
of
work
on
an
action
item
right.
So
one
thing
we
heard
is
that
people
want
to
be
able
to
walk
throughout
the
city.
They
want
to
be
able
to
access
our
local
businesses.
They
want
to
be
able
to
take
a
walk
with
their
grandchildren,
but
they
don't
always
know
where
to
find
a
public
restroom
along
the
way.
Okay,
and
so
we
actually
mapped
all
of
the
city's
public
restrooms
that
this.
B
And
sometimes
especially,
if
you
were
taking
something
like
a
water
pill
that
might
prevent
somebody
for
for
going
out
into
the
neighborhood
for
a
long
time,
but
public
restrooms
are
great
for
everybody
right.
The
kids
needs,
and
you
know
everyone
needs
to
find
one
around
the
city.
So
we
map
them
all
and
you
can
go
on
the
city
website.
You
can
tell
them
what
neighborhood
you're
in
what
your
address
is.
B
B
So
things
like,
maybe
if
they
went
into
a
restaurant,
they
it
was
hard
to
read
the
menu.
The
lighting
was
very
dim
or,
or
you
know,
I-
that
I
there
was
nowhere
to
sit
in
a
store
if
you
needed
to
rest
for
a
few
minutes
or
the
aisles
were
too
tight
narrow
to
get
down
with
a
walker,
and
so
we
started
a
program
called
aging
dementia,
friendly
businesses,
which
we
just
launched
in
partnership
with
West
Roxbury
Main
streets.
B
B
B
I
mean
you
raise
a
really
good
point,
because
it
is
easy
to
get
more
isolated.
The
older
you
get,
and
now
some
of
the
studies
are
showing
that
the
health
impact
of
social
isolation
is
similar
to
smoking.
15
cigarettes
a
day,
so
we
really
want
to
make
sure
that
people
stay
connected
and
engaged
in
in
community
we're
doing
a
few
things.
B
In
order
to
do
that,
so
one
we
are
mapping
all
of
the
social
engagement
opportunities
for
older
adults
in
Boston,
so
we've
we've
gone,
we've
talked
to
lots
of
different
partner
organizations
who
are
running
different
programs.
We've
put
together
a
database
and
with
the
help
of
our
research
partner,
UMass
Boston,
gerontology
Institute.
B
We
will
be
mapping
all
of
those
and
then
we'll
be
looking
at
the
gaps
and
how
we
can
fill
some
of
those
gaps
so
that
so
that
in
every
neighborhood
of
the
city,
there's
opportunities
for
people
to
find
something
that
they
enjoy
doing
that
they
can
get
engaged
in
mm-hm.
We
also
know
that
some
people
it's
harder
to
get
out
of
their
homes
and
so.
B
Big
issue,
so
we
started
this
past
year
as
part
of
our
plan
building
some
relationships
with
faith,
faith-based
organizations
to
try
to
use
their
newsletters
to
get
information
out
to
older
adults,
okay
about
different
programs
and
services
that
they
can
offer.
And
oh
in
this
next
year,
we're
going
to
continue
to
build
on
that
relationship,
because
many
many
older
adults
are
connected
to
faith-based
organizations.
B
A
B
A
B
B
Well,
you
know
I
think
that
one
thing
that
I
hear
from
our
older
residents
that
they're
surprised
about
is
actually
a
service
we've
had
at
the
Commission
for
a
long
time,
but
I
think
it's.
So
it's
so
great
that
people
don't
don't
recognize
that
it
exists
right.
So
we
actually
have.
We
have
a
program
called
the
senior
shuttle
where
we
provide
over
40,000
free
medical
rides
to
seniors
in
about
40,000
40,000
Wow,
so
people
who
live
in
Boston
you
have
to
live
in
Boston.
You
need
to
be
over
the
age
of
60,
okay,.
A
B
B
B
B
A
B
A
B
Leaders,
yes,
so
our
Civic
Academy.
So
we
ran
that
once
as
a
pilot,
we're
working
with
UMass
Boston
now
to
really
look
at
that
model
and
figure
out
how
we
can
make
it
replicable
and
talking
to
the
participants
that
participated
and
thinking
about
what
do
we
need
to
do
even
better
next
time
and
then
we'll
be
rolling
that
out
again
in
the
fall.
So
that's
really
exciting.
That
will
be
well
we'll
have
another
class
that
will
happen
again
over
this
next
year.
B
B
In
we
get
very
positive
response
about
our
programs,
but
I
think
that
one
of
the
things
that
we're
very
cognizant
of
is
listening
to
people
to
when
they
have
suggestions
and
advice
for
us
right.
We're
we're
here
to
to
serve
the
serve
the
people.
I
always
say
you
know,
I
work
for
the
mayor
and
for
the
city
of
Boston,
but
I
actually
have
a
hundred
and
five
thousand
bosses
out
there,
and
so
we're
really
open
to
to
feedback
from
people
as
well.
B
But
but
you
know
it's
funny
with
with
feedback
you're
saying
what
are
the
ways
people
can
get
involved?
Well,
they
can
get
involved.
In
our
events
we
have.
We
have
a
lot
of
events
every
year
and
people
can
call
our
office
to
find
out
more
information.
But
we
have
one
coming
up
that
people
really
enjoy
every
year
and
I
hope
folks
will
will
join
us
for
that
on
October
18th
will
be
hosting
the
mayor's
walk
and
it's
gonna
be
right
in
Joe,
Moakley
Park
in
South
Boston,
and
so
it's
a
fun
day.
B
So
we
have
an
application,
so
people
can
sign
up
to
come,
so
we
make
sure
we
have
enough
food
for
folks.
They
can
call
call
us
call
3-1-1
and
ask
for
the
elderly
commission
and
they
also
in
our
seniority
magazine,
which
is
another
way
people
can
get
involved
right.
We
put
out
a
monthly
magazine,
so
folks
can
pick
up
a
copy
of
that
at
three
hundred
locations
across
the
city.
Libraries,
community,
centers
all
over
the
city,
but
we'll
have
an
application
for
the
mayor's
walk
right
in.