Chatham County Celebrates New Age-Friendly Designation

SAVANNAH (July 8, 2022) - The AARP Network of Age-Friendly States & Communities Friday welcomed Chatham County into the network during the County Board of Commissioners meeting in Savannah. The county and eight incorporated cities within its borders, join over 600 other communities across the nation that have committed to preparing for an aging population.

Launched in 2012, the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities (NAFSC) is an organizational affiliate of the World Health Organization Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, a program launched in 2006. Through the age-friendly program, AARP helps participating communities to become more livable and age-friendly by creating safer and more walkable streets, needed housing and transportation options, better access to key services, and opportunities for residents to participate in community activities.

“We are thrilled that Chatham County has joined the network,” said Debra Tyler Horton, State Director for AARP Georgia. “We commend the Board for recognizing the value of being an age-friendly community for people of all ages, and we look forward to continuing our work together to make Chatham County a great place to grow up and grow old.”

The NAFSC provides a structured process that guides change and serves as a catalyst to educate, encourage, promote and recognize improvements that benefit residents of all ages and life stages. Enrollment in the network provides member communities with the resources to become more age-friendly by tapping into national and global research, planning models and best practices.

Georgia is home to the nation’s first age-friendly community – Macon-Bibb County – which is celebrating its 10-year NAFSC anniversary in 2022. In total, there are more than 60 Georgia communities that are currently part of the NAFSC.

For more information, visit www.aarp.org/livable.