York County: a Livable Community for All

York County: a Livable Community for All

York County’s Age-Friendly Action Plan Receives AARP Endorsement

The York County Community Foundation (YCCF) is pleased to announce the approval of York County’s Age-Friendly Action and Evaluation Plan – a requirement for enrollment into AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.

Bill Armbruster, Senior Advisor, AARP Livable Communities said, “The plan is amazing!  It has everything and more that we look for in a plan.” He added, “I will also be sharing this as a best practice for other communities that are working on their plan.”

Earlier this year, YCCF’s managing director of Embracing Aging, Cathy Bollinger, worked with community partners on the action plan. The specified goals include improving livability in the areas of housing, outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, communication and information, civic participation and employment, respect and social inclusion, health services and community supports, and social participation.

Cathy shared her excitement on the endorsement and approval of the plan by stating. “This is a time to make real change for all residents of York County. Eighteen organizations have contributed to the plan, and we thank them for stepping up to focus on creating a more livable community for all. We invite other businesses and organizations to join us in showing their commitment to making York County more age-inclusive. Let’s hit this out of the ballpark and serve as role models for the over 560 other communities enrolled in the network!”

David Kalinoski, Associate State Director, AARP-PA, has been working with York County partners for over 15 years to create a community that is both a great place to grow up and grow older. He spoke with Cathy last year and congratulated YCCF for submitting the application on behalf of the County to enroll in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.

“We have to prepare for the rapid aging of our population,” he said. “With one in five people who will be 65 or older in the next 10 years in the United States, communities must focus on making areas more livable for all ages.” Being enrolled in this network means York County is working together to improve the eight Domains of Livability to ensure everyone has a better quality of life. “Where people live impacts their health status is a social determinant of health more than any other measure of livability,” added Kalinoski.

“York County’s enrollment in the network lifts the profile of the community, making us a more attractive destination for new commerce and residents,”  stated York County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler. “York County Community Foundation plays a key role in finding solutions for important community issues that include people of all ages and diversity across a variety of sectors in the work they do to create a vibrant York County. Embracing Aging advocates for our community to be considerate of and accessible to the needs and wants of older adults.”

A study by Embracing Aging found that 36 percent of York Countians who are age 55 plus, hold over 13,500 York County jobs and contribute almost $1 billion to our local economy.

The Age-Friendly Action Plan builds on YCCF’s Embracing Aging work to improve how people perceive and experience aging in York County by disrupting negative attitudes on aging, dismantling ageism, and increasing opportunities and accessibility for people age 50 and older.

The local organizations joining YCCF on leading the goals of the plan, include:

AARP-PA
Aging2.0 for South Central PA
Affordable Housing Advocates
City of York Health Bureau
Good News Consulting, Inc.
Good News Consulting, Inc. and Visiting Angels – York on behalf of DEMENTIA FRIENDLY YORK/ADAMS
Hospice and Community Care
Pappus House
Penn State York
Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community
rabbittransit D/B/A York County Transportation Authority
Seniors Bluebook of South Central PA
Servants, Inc. Home Helps Program
Windy Hill Senior Center, Inc.
York County Area Agency on Aging
York County Economic Alliance
York County Libraries
York County Planning Commission
Your Life Your Wishes, sponsored by Hospice and Community Care

To learn more about creating an age-friendly community or to read the full plan, please visit www.yccf.org/age-friendly.

To learn how you can join the plan, contact Cathy Bollinger at cbollinger@yccf.org or 717.848.3733, ext. 111

York County Community Foundation creates a vibrant York County by engaging donors, providing community leadership, and investing in high-impact initiatives while building endowment for future generations. York County Community Foundation holds more than 600 endowed funds and assists donors and nonprofits in reaching their charitable goals. The Community Foundation granted $6.9 million in 2020 throughout York County and beyond, and stewards approximately $178 million in assets.