AARP Georgia and the City of Atlanta Celebrate New Age-Friendly Designation

Celebrate Atlanta becoming an Age-Friendly Community at the Atlanta City Hall Atrium, 55 Trinity Avenue, SW, Atlanta on Monday, May 5, at 11 am  during a press conference and festivities for Senior Day. AARP Georgia will join City of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed to announce Atlanta’s designation as an Age-Friendly Community in honor of Older Atlantans Month. The designation is from the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, affiliated with the World Health Organization (WHO).

An Age-Friendly Community is designed to establish an inclusive and accessible environment that encourages active and healthy aging for all ages.  It also proactively focuses on those elements of communities that enhance independent living with a goal of having older citizens take a more active role in their communities. Atlanta is beginning the first steps of its five-year journey to becoming an Age-Friendly Community. An advisory council of key, local community members, and leaders will be created.

“As an international city, it’s only fitting that the City of Atlanta become a part of a Global Network of Age-Friendly Communities committed to creating physical and social environments that promote safe, healthy,  active, and quality lifestyles for people as they age,” says Charima Young, Associate State Director, Community Outreach, AARP Georgia.

Young states that AARP and the City of Atlanta are working jointly to ensure that the city remains relevant to those who want to live their best lives by ensuring inclusivity for residents of all ages. This new designation will incorporate and streamline planning strategies that allow residents to remain in their communities for a lifetime.  Soon the community can get involved through upcoming live Age-Friendly town hall meetings in June. Discussions will include safe walkable streets to access to better retail and social services, the benefits of an Age-Friendly Atlanta are endless.

David Pilgrem, Associate State Director, Advocacy, AARP Georgia says, “Atlanta is commonly referred to as the gateway of the south.  Everyday a one-way ticket lands in Atlanta with those passengers calling Atlanta their new home.  Our city has become known as a welcomed refuge for retirees and 45% of the 1.6 million new people that call Georgia home are age 50 and older. So every time a plane lands - Atlanta changes and Georgia changes.”

AARP Georgia anticipates working collectively with the City of Atlanta to create long-lasting impact and sustainability that meets the needs of Atlantans and the needs of upcoming area transplants.

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