2018 -- S 2928

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LC005616

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY 24, 2018, TO BE "AGE FRIENDLY RHODE ISLAND DAY"

     

     Introduced By: Senators Goodwin, McCaffrey, Conley, Ruggerio, and Lombardi

     Date Introduced: May 24, 2018

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island population of people aged 65 and over is expected to

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grow from 151,881 in 2010, to 247,579 by 2030, increasing the total share of this population from

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14.4 percent to 23 percent; and

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     WHEREAS, The state has the highest percent of persons age 85 years and over and this

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group is projected to increase by 72 percent by 2040; and

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     WHEREAS, Research shows that older Americans overwhelmingly want to remain in

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their own homes and communities as they age; and

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     WHEREAS, Access to quality healthcare, long-term supports and services, and social

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supports are essential for individuals to live in their homes and communities; and

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     WHEREAS, The ability to get to where one needs to go is a key factor for successful

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aging within a community yet research suggests that after age 70, older women may spend 10

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years dependent on others for transportation and older men may spend seven years dependent,

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thus creating significant challenges for these transit-dependent older adults to access healthcare

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and engage in family and community life; and

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     WHEREAS, About one-third of older Rhode Islanders live alone which may lead to

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social isolation and loneliness which in some studies, has been shown to be on a par with

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smoking, high blood pressure and obesity as a predictor of early death; and

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     WHEREAS, Older Rhode Islanders make valuable contributions to the state's economy

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and social fabric by providing hundreds of hours of volunteer service, serving as family

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caregivers, making charitable contributions and remaining engaged in the workforce; and

 

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     WHEREAS, Active aging is a life-long process and journey, whereby age-friendly

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communities and states are not just "elder-friendly" but also intended to be friendly for all ages;

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and

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     WHEREAS, The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a Global Network of

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Age- Friendly Cities and Communities to encourage and promote public policies to increase the

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number of cities and communities that support healthy aging and thereby improve the health,

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well-being, satisfaction, and quality of life for older Americans; and

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     WHEREAS, Working under the auspices of the WHO and the AARP Network of Age-

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Friendly Communities, 231 communities across the country and two states, New York and

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Massachusetts, are working to become Age-Friendly; and

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     WHEREAS, Legislation enacted in 2014 established the Aging in Community

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Subcommittee of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council which issued a report and Strategic

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Plan leading to the creation of the Age-Friendly Rhode Island Coalition whose vision is to build a

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state that enables Rhode Islanders to live independently with the care, support, and resources

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needed to foster health, well-being, social connectedness, and a meaningful life as they age; and

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     WHEREAS, Age-Friendly Rhode Island Coalition work groups are focusing on nine

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domains of livability: Transportation, Housing, Civic and Community Engagement,

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Communication and Information, Healthcare Access, Supports at Home, Food Security and

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Nutrition, Economic Security and Outdoor Spaces and Public Buildings; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby proclaims May 24th, 2018, as "Age Friendly Rhode Island Day"; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby supports the work of the Rhode Island Age-

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Friendly Coalition including local efforts initiated by municipalities and volunteer groups and

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furthermore encourages the Governor and state agencies to join in supporting this work; and be it

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further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Jody Shue,

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Executive Director of the Age-Friendly Rhode Island Coalition.

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LC005616

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