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North Carolina Joins the Age-Friendly Network

The state is the 10th to enroll in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities

North Carolina is a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities

North Carolina is a state member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.

Map template by iStock | Map customization by AARP Livable Communities

After enrolling his state in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper signed an executive order on May 2, 2023, instructing the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to create a "Multisector Plan for Aging" and develop recommendations for improving adult protective services.

Other directives include the formation of a caregiving workforce strategic leadership group and work to improve transportation options, nutrition services, access to outdoor spaces, broadband and digital literacy.

As explained by AARP North Carolina Director Mike Olender, by the year 2035, 90 out of the state’s 100 counties will have more people over age 60 than under 18. Adds Mary Penny Kelley, director of Hometown Strong, an initiative focused on rural communities: “North Carolina is a rural state, with 80 of our 100 counties being outside major metropolitan areas.” The needs, she explains, “expand well beyond our growing metro areas.”

North Carolina’s enrollment in the age-friendly network builds on previous age-friendly efforts, including a 2022 survey conducted in partnership with AARP to assess the needs and preferences of more than 3,000 North Carolinians age 45 or older.