West Hartford’s Age-Friendly Communities Initiative
Aging and Growing Well Together
The Town of West Hartford is proud to announce that our application to join the Age-Friendly Community Network has been officially accepted! This milestone reflects West Hartford’s ongoing commitment to supporting residents as they age.
Through our partnership with the CT Age Well Collaborative and recognition as a WellSpring Award recipient for leadership in advancing inclusive aging efforts, we continue to build a community where residents can thrive at every stage of life.
Becoming age-friendly means intentionally designing programs, services, spaces, and policies that support aging safely, actively, and with dignity in the community they love.
Pictured with the WellSpring Award (from left to right), Adrienne Billings-Smith, Rebecca Sears, Lisa Hanse, Keren Paquette, Patricia Kiely, and Kevin Ryan
What’s Next: Steps Toward Official Membership
Acceptance of our application marks the beginning of a multi-year planning and implementation process. West Hartford will complete the following steps to become fully recognized as an official Age-Friendly community:
1. Community Assessment
We will gather data through surveys, listening sessions, focus groups, and demographic analysis to understand the experiences of our residents as they age and grow in West Hartford.
2. Stakeholder Engagement
Town departments, community partners, healthcare providers, housing advocates, transportation leaders, and residents will be engaged to ensure a collaborative, cross-sector approach.
3. Develop an Age-Friendly Action Plan
Using community feedback and best practices, we will develop a 3-year action plan outlining measurable goals and strategies across key domains, including housing, transportation, social participation, communication, civic engagement, and health access.
4. Submit and Adopt the Plan
The Action Plan will be formally adopted and submitted to the Age-Friendly Network as part of our commitment to accountability and continuous improvement.
5. Implementation & Ongoing Evaluation
We will begin implementing identified strategies, track progress, and provide public updates to ensure transparency and measurable impact.
This process ensures that the Age-Friendly designation is not symbolic — it is grounded in community voice, measurable outcomes, and long-term commitment.
Upcoming Community Survey
Your voice matters.
As part of our Age-Friendly planning process, we will be launching a community-wide survey in the coming months. The survey will gather feedback from residents.
- Housing and affordability
- Transportation and walkability
- Social participation and inclusion
- Access to health services
- Communication and civic engagement
- Outdoor spaces and public buildings
Survey results will directly inform our Age-Friendly Action Plan and guide priorities for the years ahead.
Stay tuned for details on how to participate — online, in print, and through community distribution sites.
Our Commitment
West Hartford’s Age-Friendly Initiative is grounded in equity, accessibility, and belonging. As we move forward, we are committed to:
- Engaging residents in meaningful dialogue
- Centering lived experience in decision-making
- Promoting intergenerational connection
- Removing barriers that impact aging in place
This is community work — and we invite you to be part of it.
For updates, survey information, and ways to get involved, please reach out to us at AFC@westhartfordct.gov or by calling 860-561-8172. Please check back to this webpage for announcements.