Complete Story
10/20/2025
Amy Lipka, Age-Friendly Athens County Coordinator
Age-Friendly Athens County Coordinator
Perspectives from the Field:
Connecting People, Ideas, and Purpose
In this edition of Perspectives from the Field, we spotlight the dynamic, relationship-driven work happening in Athens County to support older adults through collaboration and community engagement. From spontaneous encounters at local events to strategic partnerships between organizations, each day is a blend of connection, creativity, and action. Whether linking a home repair program with a falls prevention initiative or facilitating focus groups to inform transportation planning, this work turns individual efforts into shared progress. It’s a reminder that aging touches every aspect of community life—and that listening, connecting, and acting together can create lasting impact for all generations.
Meet Amy Lipka
Name: Amy Lipka
Profession: Age-Friendly Athens County Coordinator
Current Place of Employment: Athens City-County Health Department
What is a day in the life for you at your job?
I spend a lot of time connecting people and ideas to help community projects grow and take shape. Each day looks a little different, but most of my work falls into one of four categories: encounters, connections, referrals, and engagements. An encounter might be a conversation with someone at a community event that sparks an idea or highlights a need. A connection could mean introducing two organizations that can help each other move a project forward. A referral often involves pointing someone to a person or program that can address their need more directly. An engagement is when I act in response to a request or opportunity, like helping move an idea from conversation to implementation alongside local partners.
How has your work impacted older adults?
A lot of my work is about building relationships and helping partners work together in ways that support older adults. I think of it as turning individual efforts into shared progress. Each organization has its own focus, and sometimes it takes someone from the outside to notice where the work connects. Recent examples include linking a home repair program with a falls prevention initiative to strengthen home safety, facilitating a focus group with seniors to inform transportation planning, and working with local organizations that support caregivers on a survey to learn more about their needs.
What advice would you give to your younger self when thinking about working with older adults and the aging population?
I would tell my younger self not to wait until later in life to think about aging. Every community decision about housing, transportation, the environment, or health affects people of all ages. I’ve learned that age-friendly work benefits everyone. I’d also remind myself that listening is just as important as leading.
Anything else to share?
Athens County has a long history of people coming together to solve problems, and I’m glad to be part of that. Age-Friendly Athens County runs on partnerships and on people who care about keeping our community connected and welcoming for all ages.
Your Voice Matters—
Share Your Gerontology Practice with OAGE
Whether you're working in healthcare, education, social services, research, or community programming, your experiences in the field of aging are invaluable. OAGE invites all members practicing in any capacity within gerontology to share their stories, insights, and innovations.
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