Age and Dementia Friendly Essex

In 2019, the Town of Essex was recognized by AARP, and Dementia Friendly Massachusetts.  We now join a growing number of communities across the world in being designated an Age Friendly Community, and a Dementia Friendly community. 

Age-Friendly communities began as a global effort in 2010 by the World Health Organization.  Here in the United States, AARP leads the Age Friendly Initiative as an affiliate of the World Health Organization. We join six states, and 424 communities across the country with this designation. As an Age Friendly Community, Essex's leadership has committed to actively work with residents and advocates to make Essex a better community to grow older in. 

Our Dementia Friendly Designation indicates that we are working towards making Essex a community where people with dementia and understood, respected, and supported.  We join 160 other communities in Massachusetts with this designation.  Both Kristin and Tess are Dementia Champions, which means we are able to faciliate public awareness sessions about Dementia within the Essex Community.  If you would like to request a session, please email us or call us at 978-768-7932. 

The Town of Essex is working closely with Age and Dementia Friendly Cape Ann, the City of Gloucester, and Towns of Manchester-by-the-Sea and Rockport on this project.