GA Mountains Regional Commission is 7th Age-Friendly Region in state

GAINESVILLE, Georgia -– This week, the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States & Communities welcomed the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission (GMRC) into the network during an in-person designation ceremony. The 12 counties represented by the Commission, serves 21% of older adults who are 60 years old and almost 500,000 Georgians. GMRC joins almost 800 other communities around the country 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 honored to have been chosen for this designation for the Georgia Mountains Region. This opportunity is important to the aging community of the Georgia Mountains Region and will work to create meaningful connections between senior citizens and the environment in which they live by ensuring that citizens can engage in what the community has to offer and have the services and facilities they need locally to meet their needs.” Heather Feldman, Executive Director, Georgia Mountains Regional Commission.

“We are thrilled that the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission has joined the network,” said Debra Tyler-Horton, State Director for AARP Georgia. “We commend the Commission 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 the region 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 63 Georgia communities that are currently part of the NAFSC.

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