Our County’s Action Plan is Best Practice Among National Network
You deserve to live more easily in your home and community, no matter your age!
That’s why in February 2020, York County Community Foundation’s Embracing Aging, with the support of the York County Commissioners, enrolled York County in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Being part of this network provides a unique and exciting opportunity for all of us to work together to make real change for residents of York County.
To view York County’s age-friendly plan, click: Age-Friendly Action Plan 2021
People of all ages benefit from the adoption of policies and programs that make neighborhoods walkable, feature transportation options, enable access to key services, provide opportunities to participate in community activities, and support housing that’s affordable and adaptable. Well-designed, age-friendly communities foster economic growth and make for happier, healthier residents of all ages.
Being enrolled in this network means York County is working together to improve 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
- Social participation
- Other (emergency preparedness, elder abuse, public safety, dementia-friendly)
Improving livability could mean:
- Employers have programs and policies in place that promote an age-inclusive workforce and consider qualified applicants of all ages for jobs
- More ordinances are in place that support innovative housing options, like converting a garage or adding a tiny house to a property
- There are plenty of paved surfaces wide enough for strollers and wheelchairs to travel safely and easily, with ample seating in shaded areas
- Housing is close to a grocery store, doctor’s office, and public transportation stops
- Outdoor spaces and public buildings are safe and accessible with plenty of parking
- Decision-makers seek the perspectives and experiences of all ages in creating solutions
Why is this important?
Our community is stronger when we have people of all ages thriving.
Being an age-friendly community means we ask ourselves, “Does it work for people of all ages?” If it works for someone age 8 and age 80, it will most likely work for everyone. When we apply this thinking, York County benefits from the wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and energy achieved from being an age-equitable community.
Our enrollment in this network means York County can learn alongside other communities throughout the nation, share expertise, and receive technical assistance to help us in this work. Most important, it lifts the profile of York County, making us a more attractive destination for new commerce and residents.
York County’s Action and Evaluation Plan Receives National Recognition
Part of the requirement of being enrolled in the network is developing and implementing an action and evaluation plan. YCCF’s managing director of Embracing Aging, Cathy Bollinger, worked with community partners who have stepped up to lead goals designed to help make York County more age-friendly. After submitting the plan to the network, we received the following feedback from Bill Armbruster, Senior Advisor, AARP Livable Communities
“The plan is amazing! It has everything and more that we look for in a plan… I will also be sharing this as a best practice for other communities that are working on their plan.”
The 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 aged 50 and older. Visit www.EmbracingAging.org to learn more.
The organizations joining YCCF in leading goals in the plan are:
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 view York County’s age-friendly plan, click: Age-Friendly Action Plan 2021
To view our AARP certification, click: York County AARP Age-Friendly Community Certificate
Want to Get Involved?
Contact Cathy Bollinger, managing director of Embracing Aging to learn how you can help at [email protected].
For more information about the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, visit https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/network-age-friendly-communities/
