Author Archives for Ashley Preston

Salem Unveils “Happy to Chat” Bench Program

August 29, 2022 12:30 pm Published by Comments Off on Salem Unveils “Happy to Chat” Bench Program

Salem Unveils “Happy to Chat” Bench Program AARP grant to Salem for All Ages funds new initiative to facilitate community connections Salem, MA –The City of Salem, through the Salem for All Ages initiative, has received an AARP Massachusetts Small Dollar Big Impact grant to fund the creation and installation of ten “Happy to Chat” benches throughout the community. The first “Happy to...


Age-Friendly Salem, Massachusetts

May 23, 2022 12:39 pm Published by Comments Off on Age-Friendly Salem, Massachusetts

What’s been achieved since joining the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities Click here to read the full article  


Column: Salem the model of an age-friendly city

December 4, 2021 3:51 pm Published by Comments Off on Column: Salem the model of an age-friendly city

“From the very start of Salem for All Ages to today, as the first five years come to a close, Salem’s community-based, collaborative effort to create a more welcoming city for people of all ages and abilities has become a model that other municipalities – in Massachusetts and in other states – have looked to in order to emulate.” Read...


Salem Age-Friendly Training Promotes Social Inclusion for Older Adults 

April 16, 2021 11:21 am Published by Comments Off on Salem Age-Friendly Training Promotes Social Inclusion for Older Adults 

Written by Chloe-Rose Crouch, AARP Massachusetts Outreach Intern “AARP’s Livable Communities Initiative strives to help communities become great places to live for people of all ages by focusing on eight “Domains of Livability:”  housing, transportation, social participation, access to information, outdoor spaces, health services, social inclusion, and civic participation. Salem, one of the first five cities to join Massachusetts’ Network of Age -Friendly Communities, established a...


City launches Salem Skipper an On-Demand Rideshare Service

January 23, 2021 4:18 pm Published by Comments Off on City launches Salem Skipper an On-Demand Rideshare Service

On December 16th the City launched the Salem Skipper, which is an on-demand rideshare transportation service. The service is intended to be a fast, easy, and affordable way to travel throughout the community. The city has partnered with Via, an on-demand transit provider, to provide the service which will allow residents and visitors to book a trip anywhere within Salem...


Salem for All Ages Blog Post

October 17, 2020 7:33 pm Published by Comments Off on Salem for All Ages Blog Post

"Salem’s age-friendly initiative is for you. The goal of the original action plan remains the goal in the 4th year of the 5 year plan, to create a livable, safe, and vibrant city, to benefit all of our residents, regardless of age or ability." -Patricia Zaido


Internship at Salem COA named for senior advocate

October 9, 2020 12:32 pm Published by Comments Off on Internship at Salem COA named for senior advocate

“A new internship at the Salem Community Life Center honors former North Shore Elder Services Board President Katherine “Kay” Walsh. Alyssa Flynn, a senior in the School of Social Work at Salem State University, is the center’s first recipient of the Katherine Walsh Internship. Flynn got the chance to meet Walsh on Thursday at the Community Life Center and learn...


Salem for All Ages

October 4, 2020 1:13 pm Published by Comments Off on Salem for All Ages

In almost four years Salem has made tremendous strides to encourage active aging, provide opportunities for good health, inclusion and security, and to become even more a place that improves the quality of life for all the people of Salem as they age. In January 2017, Salem’s 5-year Age-Friendly Action Plan was approved by the World Health Organization and the...


Improving Safety & Accessibility in Salem while Creating Transportation Options

October 4, 2020 12:47 pm Published by Comments Off on Improving Safety & Accessibility in Salem while Creating Transportation Options

Over the past several years city staff, volunteers and partners who make up the Salem For All Ages Task Force have been evaluating and developing multiple programs, projects and services with the goal of establishing additional transportation options as well as improving the overall safety and accessibility for all users traveling in the city. The following is an update of...


Salem is in the Business of Inclusion

October 4, 2020 12:16 pm Published by Comments Off on Salem is in the Business of Inclusion

Salem is a welcoming and inclusive place, and the efforts of the Salem for All Ages initiative is helping to strengthen those values. The work of the initiative has been guided since 2017 by the Salem for All Ages Action Plan and a critical part of that plan is a focus on social inclusion. Earlier this year the initiative launched...


What do I want to be when I grow up? I’m still working on that…

October 4, 2020 12:09 pm Published by Comments Off on What do I want to be when I grow up? I’m still working on that…

Most folks have an idea of what their ‘golden years’ will look like: taking care of yourself, doing what you what you want to do on your own timeline. If you live in Massachusetts, that also might include somewhere without snow. Too often, however, there are pieces of the puzzle that come together in a different way than expected. Physical...


The Spooky Wisdom of Salem for All Ages

October 4, 2020 11:55 am Published by Comments Off on The Spooky Wisdom of Salem for All Ages

Salem for All Ages is about more than just supporting Salem’s older adults. It is about empowering all Salem residents to make our city resilient today and into the future. Throughout the history of urban development people have evolved with our cities. We have optimized complex variables to create a habitat for ourselves. Chuck Marohn of the organization Strong Towns...