Livable Communities

RALEIGH - Recognizing the immediate and long-term challenges that those affected by Hurricane Florence still face, particularly vulnerable older adults, AARP members and AARP Foundation are donating $635,000 to various rebuilding as well as legal assistance efforts in North Carolina.

Guilford County has recently joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, along with other counties such as Buncombe, Mecklenburg, Orange, and Wake. Age-Friendly Network members work toward becoming vibrant and welcoming for people of all ages through a continuous cycle of improvement in specific areas of design and sustainability. These areas promote health and quality of life for older adults and benefit all those in the community. An early step in the process of becoming an Age-Friendly Community is assessing Guilford County’s needs and priorities in those key areas.

North Carolina residents had several days’ notice that Hurricane Florence was headed straight to Southeastern NC. Despite warnings to evacuate, many residents stayed in their homes. While their reasons varied, many cited that they don’t have the means to pay for lodging, gas and food to move to a safer place, even though free shelters were available to them.

By Sue Price Johnson

AARP is working to make North Carolina communities better places for people of all ages. Two major Triad Counties, Guilford and Forsyth have recently joined A ARP's Network of Age Friendly Communities and are working on changes that will make it easier for people to age in place.

ASHEVILLE -- The irony was perfect: outside the front door of Asheville’s NC Stage Company, teenagers were skateboarding down Walnut Street, an elder’s classic stereotype of adolescence if there ever was one. Inside, a different group of teens (and elders) were creating and putting on a performance––“Mind the Gap”––about breaking down such stereotypes.

GREENSBORO, NC – With nearly a quarter of the state’s residents expected to be age 60 or older by the year 2030, Guilford County took an important step to become a better place for people of all ages. The County recently applied for the World Health Organization’s status of “age-friendly” by joining the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC -- In a new program entitled “Booming,” airing in May on UNC-TV, and the NC Channel, viewers will learn how, four different programs are creating community and are building healthy and active opportunities for older adults to engage with others.

Nearly 2.5 million North Carolinians live in areas that have joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities.

RALEIGH— AARP is now accepting applications for the 2018 Community Challenge grant program to fund “quick-action” projects that spark change in local communities. The grant program, which is now in its second year, is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which aims to make communities great places to live for everyone.