Healthy Communities for Healthy Aging: The Toledo Experience

This program started with the APHA ‘Forum on Aging'. We were looking for model cities that could become ‘Healthy Cities for Healthy Aging'. Toledo was one of two cities that the Forum picked to become a model city. Contact was made with the Northwest Ohio Area Office on Aging (AOoA). A meeting was arranged with Mayor and several his Department Directors all of whom were pleased with our proposal. The initial proposal involved a walking\biking path that connected the Medical Campus of Toledo University with the AOoA, Senior Center, senior housing, Developmental Disabled Center, Vision Impaired Center, Mental Health Center, the proposed VA Clinic, a High School and shopping mall. This was then projected to be connected to the main campus of Toledo University which is already connected to a major biking/walking path that connects with the Metroparks System. This paper will describe how we assembled a large coalition representing the interested parties. The mistakes we made in applying for grant money. Our long range plans to continue to make Toledo a better place to live, work and age in place. A core committee of three organizations Toledo/Lucas County Health Department, Toledo University and the AOoA was established for short range planning and grant application.