Carroll County Joins the AARP Network of Age Friendly Communities

AARP is welcoming Carroll County as the latest member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.

 
As the most recent jurisdiction to sign on to the network and complete an intensive two-year study and planning project, Carroll County’s civic leaders will have access to global resources and information on age-friendly best practices, models of assessment and implementation, and the experiences of towns and cities around the world.

The Age-Friendly network helps participating communities become great places for people of all ages by adopting features such as safe, walkable streets; better housing and transportation options; access to key services; and opportunities for residents to participate in civic and community activities.

Eight Domains of an Age-Friendly Community

The AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities targets improvements in eight domains that influence the health and quality of life for all as we age. Communities participating in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities commit to improving their livability through an assessment of needs, development of an action plan, implementation of new projects and programs, and ongoing assessment – all with the involvement of the community. The eight areas of focus for the age-friendly process are:

• Outdoor spaces and buildings
• Transportation
• Housing
• Social participation
• Respect and social inclusion
• Civic participation and employment
• Communication and information
• Community support and health services

The livability indicators are planned, implemented and assessed in three phases over a five-year period, with continued cycles of progress assessment and improvement continuing thereafter.
Affiliated with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities®, the AARP network helps cities and towns to prepare for two significant ongoing trends: rapid population aging and increasing urbanization.

Carroll County is the ninth Maryland jurisdiction to receive the Age-Friendly designation, joining 10 states, two territories and 638 communities across the United States. Learn more at AARP.org/agefriendly and AARP.org/livable.

AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.

###