Birmingham reviews Aging in Place Action Plan

By Grace Lovins

During the Monday, April 7, city commission meeting, Birmingham commissioners reviewed a comprehensive draft of the Aging in Place Citywide Action Plan, a document nearly 18 months in the making that outlines strategies to support older adults wishing to remain in their homes and community as they age.

The plan, explained assistant city manager Mark Clemence, was developed by the city’s Ad Hoc Aging in Place Committee (AIPC), which was formed in 2023 following direction from the commission. Its formation came from demographic trends showing an increasing senior population across the country.

Committee members were tasked with creating a citywide aging in place action plan that outlines the vision and goals to encourage senior residents to age comfortably in Birmingham.

According to Clemence, the committee used public input through a community-wide survey as well as the AARP’s 8 Domains of Livability to structure the aging in place plan. The framework included community and health, outdoor space and buildings, communication and information, social and civic engagement, housing, community support and health services, and transportation.

One of the plan’s central recommendations is the development of a new community and senior center that would house Next, Birmingham’s primary provider of senior services. A new community and senior center is currently in the works to replace the existing Birmingham YMCA building located at 400 E Lincoln.

Other suggested actions include expanding communication channels about services available to older residents, enhancing transportation options and revisiting the zoning ordinance to allow for more flexible housing solutions such as senior living facilities.

The report emphasizes coordination with the city, local service providers and regional partners. While it doesn’t indicate an immediate fiscal impact on the city, the report also suggests that ongoing implementation could be supported through existing partnerships and potential millage revenues.

With the meeting nearing midnight, commissioners agreed to bring the discussion to a future workshop to give themselves and the public more time to digest the plan. The commission took no action and asked city staff to look at making the presentation the focus of an upcoming workshop.