Age-Friendly Worthington
The Age-Friendly Worthington Initiative is now underway! A steering committee of stakeholders, including residents, city representatives, local organizations and others have convened to start the process to gather information about how age friendly Worthington currently is, and what gaps may exist. We are studying what older residents want, and need, to be able to remain in their homes and community. With this data we can develop an action plan to address the gaps and ensure that our community will be a livable community for all ages.
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What Is the Age-Friendly Initiative?
“Whether a person is young or old, starting a family or a business, livable communities provide advantages that enhance the quality of life of residents, the economic prospects of businesses and the bottom lines of local governments. Residents of all ages should have the opportunity to take advantage of all that Worthington has to offer.”
This quote, from my 2017 campaign mailer, wasn’t just a slogan. Since I took office, I have been committed to ensuring that our community can be livable for all ages and abilities and that it is an inclusive, supportive and dynamic community for all. During my first term, I have been able to make great strides towards seeing this promise through.
Early in 2019, City Council identified the Age-Friendly Worthington Initiative as a high priority. A city intern supported the effort by studying the issue, pulling together a small advisory committee (of which I was a member), and making a presentation to City Council during which she explained the need for an intentional focus on age-friendly policy and practice, and sharing a list of existing city initiatives that are age-friendly in their intent and outcomes.
The World Health Organization defines an age-friendly community as one that enables people of all ages to actively participate in community activities and treats everyone with respect regardless of their age. In the United States, a network of Age-Friendly cities and communities has been developed with guidance by AARP to encourage and promote public policies to increase the number of cities and communities that support healthy aging and thereby improve the health, well-being, satisfaction, and quality of life for older Americans.
Our nation is growing older. The population of the United States of people aged 65 and older is expected to grow from 12 percent in 2000 to 20 percent of the total population in 2050. At least twenty percent of Worthington’s population is currently aged 65 and older, and that number is expected to grow as we live longer and healthier lives. Worthington has the largest percentage of older people in our community compared to other central Ohio suburbs.
On December 9, 2019, City Council approved a resolution (Resolution No. 77-2019) committing Worthington to joining 400+ cities and states as part of the AARP national Network of Age Friendly Communities.
