South Hadley partnered with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in 2019 to create a regional action plan for becoming a more age-friendly and dementia-friendly community. The plan will address quality of life issues such as walkability of outdoor spaces, transportation needs, information access, and social isolation, particularly in relation to older adults.
The results of a South Hadley – Holyoke – Chicopee Livability Survey show more than 100 answers from community members about questions relating to moving in retirement, the importance of remaining in the community as one ages, and features or amenities important to a community as one ages.
Also included is information specifically about South Hadley from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation 2018 Massachusetts Healthy Aging Community Profile. In it are statistics showing that compared to state averages, older South Hadley residents have lower rates of anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, lung cancer, liver disease, and visual impairment. However, they have higher rates of Alzheimer’s disease, hypertension, heart attack, atrial fibrillation, arthritis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, hypothyroidism, chronic kidney disease, glaucoma, cataract, ulcer, and hearing impairment.
Click here to read survey results and data.