Age friendly communities offer inclusive and accessible environments for people of all ages to optimize opportunities for health, participation, autonomy, and security. Age friendly communities strive to enhance the quality of life and dignity for people as they actively age.
Age friendly communities began as a global effort in 2010 by the World Health Organization’s Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. In the United States, age friendly communities are led by AARP, an affiliate of the World Health Organization.
The Age Friendly framework defines focus areas (called domains) for communities and lays out a process intended to ensure consultation with the community, collective assessment, action, and evaluation.
In January 2018 Governor Charlie Baker announced that Massachusetts had joined the network of Age-Friendly States, becoming the second Age Friendly State in the country, and signaling the broader commitment of the state to the Age Friendly movement.
Additional Information:
World Health Organization Age Friendly World