Clawson seeking senior input to help plan project

Oakland County and Clawson are encouraging Clawson residents age 60 and over or the caregiver of a person at least age 60 to participate in a focus group that could ultimately lead to a more age-friendly downtown. Age-Friendly Main Street is a joint effort that seeks to determine whether the features of downtown Clawson support or hinder aging and living successfully in the community. The project, which is expected to last 18 months, will gather input from the focus group with the ultimate goal of improving quality of life for older Clawson residents and enhance the vitality of the downtown area. About one-third of all Clawson households have at least one person over the age of 60. Clawson and other Oakland County communities have seen an unprecedented aging of its population. "Clawson seniors spend a combined $44 million a year and most of it is put back into the local economy," Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. "That is a significant financial impact. I hope the results of this project can be used by other communities to improve the quality of life for their senior residents, who are a valuable resource for their communities." The project is sponsored by the Clawson Downtown Development Authority, the Clawson Senior Center, the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, Main Street Oakland County and the Quality of Life Committee of the Oakland County Business Roundtable. The focus groups are meeting Friday, Jan. 25, and Tuesday, Feb. 19. The January meeting is from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hunter Community Center, 509 Fisher Court, in Clawson. The February session is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Clawson City Hall, 425 N Main St. Those interested are asked to call (248) 589-0334. Lunch or dinner will be served and gift cards will be provided to participants as a thank you. Published: Thu, Jan 24, 2013