Long Island Counties Add Age-Friendly Liaisons

Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk counties are expanding their commitment to AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities initiative by establishing liaison roles in key agencies.

The departments slated to have liaisons include traffic, health, and economic development and planning. In Suffolk County, they will include the fire and rescue agency.

The liaison positions, to be filled by existing staffers, will report to their respective county executives, says Kevin Jones, AARP New York’s associate state director for advocacy. They will review policies to
ensure they are age-friendly and recommend possible changes to commissioners or the county executive.

“Adults over 50 on Long Island will have a voice and a seat at the table to ensure that all areas of government, not just the departments tasked with addressing issues of aging, are fully engaged in addressing their needs,” Jones says. He hopes it will reduce barriers those adults face in accessing local services, from housing aid to health care.

AARP’s age-friendly initiative seeks to boost community livability for all ages and promote best practices at the state and local levels. Learn more at aarp.org/agefriendly. 

—Mary Van Beusekom