National City Becomes the 40th CA Community to Receive Age-Friendly Designation

On Wednesday, November 20th National City officially announced their enrollment in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, making them the 40^th community in California to enroll in the network. By joining the network, National City has taken the next step toward enhancing the quality of life in the community for people of all ages and abilities.



AARP’s network, an affiliate of the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Program, is part of an international campaign to help communities prepare for rapidly aging populations and the parallel trend of urbanization. AARP’s age-friendly network provides cities, towns, counties and states with the resources to become more age-friendly by tapping into national and global research, planning models and best practices.



“From twinkle to wrinkle, baby to boomer, National City is pleased and excited to work with The San Diego Foundation, AARP & The World Health Organization to create a more Age friendly community that allows our current and future residents to live, work, play and pray-all phases of their lives-in National City.” Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, National City, California

Communities participating in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and 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 in collaboration with residents and various partners. The suggested areas of focus are: (1) Outdoor spaces and buildings; (2) Transportation; (3) Housing; (4) Social participation; (5) Respect and social inclusion; (6) Civic participation and employment; (7) Communication and information; and (8) Community support and health services.



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 is affordable and adaptable. Well-designed, age-friendly communities foster economic growth and make for happier, healthier residents of all ages.



“AARP welcomes National City to the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities,” stated AARP California State Director, Nancy McPherson. “National City has joined arms with communities around the world to implement innovative strategies that improve livability in the community and involve older residents in the process. National City has already made strides to ensure their age-friendly efforts encompass voices from of all walks of life and we are excited for their continued work to improve livability for all.”



Nationwide, over 420 communities and five states have received the Age-Friendly designation from AARP. The State of California is now home to 40 network communities, representing over 19 million residents – see the full list of network members HERE.