Buncombe County, North Carolina Print
Joined the AARP Age-Friendly Network:
8/10/2017
Lead Agency: Buncombe County Aging Coordinating Consortium (ACC)
Age-Friendly Taskforce/Advisory Council/Commission
Action Plan Download
Buncombe County developed its action plan as part of its previous work in the Aging Coordinating Consortium. The initiative's goals and strategies are the result of two community surveys and a comprehensive data and literature review. The plan reflects the vision of an age-friendly community where older adults are safe, well, and engaged, specifically highlighting that all older adults in the county, regardless of demographic, should be treated with respect.
Action Plan Highlights
Housing
Create more housing choices for older adults and encourage aging in place by coordinating across diverse stakeholder communities.Civic Participation and Employment
Build new job opportunities for older adults by educating employers about the benefits of hiring and engaging older workers, providing networking and skill-building opportunities for older adults through job fairs, and holding lunch and learn events in support of creating a more experienced workforce.Respect and Inclusion
Bolster existing initiatives, such as Friends Against Fraud, the Elder Abuse Case Review Multidisciplinary Team, and bi-annual professional networking and capacity-building events, to address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Progress Report Download
Buncombe County's age-friendly progress report highlights how the county and its partner organizations, work groups, and older adult volunteers are working together to ensure that all residents are safe, well, and engaged. The community worked to improve neighborhood and pedestrian safety through the addition of a traffic circle and visual street art, trained transit providers in dementia-friendly services and programs, and worked with local partners to build an aging in place affordable home-ownership program for older adults. The Age-Friendly Action Plan aligns with Buncombe County's 2025 Strategic Plan, particularly the focus areas of an engaged and capable community and resident well-being, by supporting residents' ability to age in place.
