Every single day for the next 10 years, 10,000 Americans will turn 65. The Cleveland Foundation began laying the groundwork early in the 21st century for the community to assess and develop the resources that will be needed to serve this explosion of aging but still active adults. In 2003, the foundation launched a three-year initiative called Successful Aging that provided $4 million to implement the recommendations of a task force of community leaders and professionals convened in 2001 to discuss ways to engage seniors through volunteering and civic involvement, lifelong learning and job opportunities.
The first grants enabled Cuyahoga Community College, Fairhill Center for Aging, Goodrich-Gannett Neighborhood Center, the Murtis H. Taylor Multi-Service Center, the OASIS Institute and the Orange City School District to establish lifelong learning and development centers. The centers, most of which began operations in early 2004, are places for older adults to congregate, network, participate in learning activities and connect with opportunities to give back to the community.
An assessment tool was created to help every municipality in northeastern Ohio evaluate and address how well they meet the needs of their aging populations in three key areas: home life, community life and mobility. Home life gauges the affordability and availability of appropriate housing choices. Community life measures the availability and accessibility of social and safety services. Mobility assesses how easy it is for seniors to get around in their communities.
Finally, the initiative gave nonprofit organizations the means to create or expand programming that serves seniors. For example, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Cleveland (RSVP) received a grant to enlarge its Experience Corps. The program, which began in 1997, mobilizes senior volunteers to tutor grade K-3 students in Cleveland schools. With the foundation’s support, RSVP increased the program’s reach from six to 16 schools and from 60 to 260 volunteers. Experience Corps not only helps improve children’s reading skills, but also provides older individuals with meaningful volunteer activities, which have been shown to improve physical and mental health.
Building on the concept of providing opportunities for seniors to give back to their communities, the Cleveland Foundation announced in 2013 that it will take a lead role in developing an “encore career” program for Greater Cleveland. The foundation will consult with Encore.org, a San Francisco-based nonprofit, on the best means locally to help find second careers in public service for individuals who may be close or at retirement age, but still wish to be productive.