Summary
In the spring of 2019, the City of Mill Valley Recreation Department introduced the first ever, Mill Valley Age Friendly Resource Fair. This fair was held at the Mill Valley Community Center, it included over 30 local service providers, and was attended by over 150 people in its first year. The fair aimed toward education of older adults as well as the family and friends of older adults in this community. It evolved from a perceived community need of increased community engagement related to local, older adult services.
Service providers included a wide variety of local vendors including but not limited to: ways to age in place including City of Mill Valley planning division zoning and permit updates related to second unit dwellings; an home matching agency assisting older adults with finding co-inhabitants who can offset living expenses; travel services geared tailored to older adults; local food delivery and produce suppliers; and Police and Fire safety and welfare information geared toward older adults. The City partnered with local community agencies that play a large role in championing older active adult social, transportation, and housing services this community. The major senior living community, The Redwoods, attended the fair as well as engaged their community to attend. Additionally a local, non-profit, organization called the Mill Valley Villages which is focused on providing aging adults in our community with a network of community and support, attended and promoted the event.
The Southern Marin Age Friendly Resource Fair was considered a big success in its first year and our community collectively decided to bring the fair back in 2020.
2019 Mill Valley Age Friendly Resource Fair
Key facts
Main target group: Both younger and older people (i.e. intergenerational)
Other target group(s): Friends and family of older people
Sector(s): Health, Housing, Information and communication, Long-term care, Other, Social protection, Transportation
Desired outcome for older people:
Learn, grow and make decisions
- Accessibility
- Ageing in place
- Dementia
- Disasters and emergencies
- Healthy behaviours (e.g. physical activity)
- Inclusion
- Participation
- Technologies