Advocacy

As the District of C olumbia is transformed into an Age-Friendly City, AARP DC is breaking down the eight domains of civic life that define age-friendliness. For two weeks we looked at Outdoor Space and now we turn to Transportation.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which kicked off its Age-Friendly Cities Programme in 2006 with 33 cities in 22 countries and affiliated with AARP last year to establish an AARP Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, has identified eight domains of civic life. These are the areas that influence the health and quality of life for individuals in a city, all of whom are aging. They are:

In a recent conversation with AARP DC, an employee of the District’s Office of Planning noted that every month the District is adding over 1,000 new residents. On account of this growth and the desire to support persons as they continue to live, work, and play in the District, the Mayor has committed to make DC an Age-Friendly City – a place where persons of all ages and abilities are able to live and thrive here.

Last October, the Mayor committed to transform the District of Columbia into an Age-Friendly City – a place where District residents of all ages will can live and thrive thanks to policies and programs that improve the quality of life. And last week, Mayor Gray released his FY 2014 Budget, outlining his Administration’s priorities for the near future. AARP DC’s review of the budget shows that the two commitments – an Age-Friendly DC and the FY 2014 Budget – still need work to become compatible. Below are the key principles of age-friendliness, some highlights of the FY 2014 Budget, and thoughts on how the two measure up.

Last night, Mayor Vincent Gray delivered his State of the District Address, recapping his Administration’s accomplishments of the past year and casting a vision for the coming year.