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Age Wave's Design Idea: Olli Connect

8/29/2017

itizens of the world all require transportation, but often and unfortunately many of us remain underserved. We require mobility and services to get to work, see our families, and access the world in a manner many may take for granted. The team at Accessible Olli, a self-driving mini-bus, would like to change that by creating solutions to make true and complete mobility accessible to all of us.

For this challenge, teams from around the world were asked to design the most inclusive experience for Olli riders of all ages and abilities, focusing on one or more of four specific categories of needs: mobility impairments, visual impairments, hearing impairments, and cognitive disabilities.

Our Age Wave team shared ideas to invent Olli Connect. Olli Connect is an idea for an RFID-based tool that enables Olli to offer personalized care for each rider with the flick of a wrist or the tap of a card. Designed by a team of gerontologists, livable community advocates, and caseworkers with experience in public transportation, Olli Connect would help all riders feel autonomous.

After review by the Olli team, our entry was accepted! See it here: https://launchforth.io/AgeWave/olli-connect/overview/?r=a85c5726-3404-4e37-8e09-84d20c886a21

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A “Blue Zone” at First Baptist Church South Richmond

8/28/2017

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Life is Calling! And, First Baptist Church South Richmond’s J.O.Y. class answered that call during Vacation Bible School (VBS) 2017 by declaring their class is, now and forever more, a Blue Zone.

Aging for Life is the first program of its kind in Greater Richmond motivating us to rethink what it means to grow older. The program is a flexible one that can be tailored to the interests and needs of requesting organizations. The Aging for Life team partnered with First Baptist Church South Richmond to deliver a unique, creative VBS course offering that provided both education and spiritual encouragement. Fifty-five people attended the four-day VBS class.

On day one, participants learned about ageism and the campaign to #DisruptAgeism. On day two, class members meditated on The Beauty and Freedom and Gifts of Elderhood. The excitement grew as class members shared their own perspectives and mottos on the benefits of elderhood. Benefits and mottos shared included, “We don’t ever lose the age that we’ve already been, we are all the ages!” and “We become more of who we are.” Perspectives on elderhood were joyfully affirmed by the evening’s curriculum.

On day three, we explored important characteristics of longevity exhibited in “Blue Zones” around the world where citizens live longer, healthier lives. This included a discussion on the importance of having the support of the “right tribe,” and results from research on the positive impact of having faith-based community. On day four, course members envisioned what saying “YES” to their own personal Blue Zone might look like. They partnered up and shared what each person might want to embrace and whether there are things in their lives that they might want to release.

All week, class members were encouraged to remember that -- today and every day -- “Life is Calling.” Our Aging for Life team ended the week in awe, feeling privileged by this special opportunity this summer with the J.O.Y. class at First Baptist Church South Richmond.

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Announcing our first Age Wave Scholar

8/28/2017

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VCU Gerontology master's degree student Emily Daidone is our first Age Wave Community Advocate Scholar. In this role, Emily will utilize her gerontological expertise to develop evaluations, criteria and reports on the topic of social isolation by identifying locations that government/advocates identify as places that would benefit from analysis, identify neighborhoods utilizing a variety of demographics, analyze local, state, and national data on programs and initiatives as they relate to the indicator of social isolation and how best to maintain social connectivity for those at greatest risk, assist in the planning, implementing and evaluating of programs that combat social isolation in the Richmond area, and assist in steps involved to ensure program is replicable for other planning districts and determine ways in which additional research and outcomes could be implemented into the project and in coordination with all involved. Her work will emphasize transportation and advocacy opportunities.

We welcome Emily to the team and look forward to sharing her great work with our region and beyond!

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Tags Defined

#engaged — people of all ages are connected through various volunteer, educational, or leisure pursuits that enhance individual quality of life and communities.

#livable — Our region will offer housing transportation, and design features that enable residents to live safely and with dignity through all the stages of their lives.

#stable — Individuals of all ages are able to obtain jobs and to access services that help to build and safeguard assets, plan for retirement, lead productive lifestyles, and care for loved ones.

#well — Our region has effective and sustainable health and wellness resources that are coordinated, accessible, and well utilized.

Age Wave's Design Idea: Olli Connect

A “Blue Zone” at First Baptist Church South Richmond

Announcing our first Age Wave Scholar

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