Introducing the New Age-Friendly Action Plan

In 1989, the NC General Assembly enacted legislation (H.B. 69) directing the Division of Aging (now the Division on Aging and Adult Services) to submit a regularly updated plan for serving older adults. In response to this, the Division established processes for counties to a) document the services they provide for older adults, and b) identify service priorities and issues affecting older adults. The following year Buncombe County developed its first 5-year Aging Plan.   

Today, we are introducing the Buncombe County Age-Friendly Action Plan. This is an update for the 2018-2022 Buncombe County Aging Plan, but with a few changes. First, it shifts away from a 5-year static plan, to a rolling 3-year plan, which will be updated as needed but at least every 2 years.    

The Action Plan has eight goals organized into three focus areas:   

Older Adult Safety 

• Promote community awareness of physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse, neglect, and exploitation. 
• Ensure safe and accessible public buildings, outdoor spaces, business, and offices.   
• Promote safe, affordable housing options for aging in place.  

Older Adult Wellbeing 

• Support older adults’ health and wellbeing.  
• Support older adults’ financial wellbeing. 
• Support caregiver wellbeing.  

Older Adult Engagement 

• Promote older adult engagement (including volunteerism, employment, lifelong learning, civic engagement, and use of cultural and recreational assets). 
• Ensure older adults have access to services and supports.  

Each goal has associated actions and activities that are both aspirational and reflective of real work underway in our community. The second change is that in this Plan, activities have associated indicators, which we will track and report on in an annual report each fall.   

The third change is that the Plan reflects Buncombe County’s affiliation with the World Health Organization and AARP's Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities with goals and activities across eight domains of livability.   

Fourth, this Plan aligns with the County’s 2025 Strategic Plan. This alignment makes apparent the fact that the actions and activities described in the Age-Friendly Action Plan will benefit Buncombe County residents and visitors of all ages and abilities. For example, incorporating age- and dementia friendly principles into public buildings, outdoor spaces, businesses, and offices ensures that everyone can access and utilize spaces such as libraries, parks, and shops regardless of whether they are in a wheelchair or pushing a baby stroller, living with Alzheimer’s or Autism.   

When the Commissioners resolved in 2017 that Buncombe County would join the Network of Age-friendly States and Communities, the  resolution called upon “all our citizens, business leaders, elected and staff government officials, philanthropists, educators, civic groups, advocacy and service organizations,   

1. to recognize that older adults constitute a valuable human resource; and,   
2. to engage older adults in all aspects of community and civic life.”  

The Age-Friendly Action Plan reflects and echoes this call. There are currently fourteen committees and working groups engaged in Age-Friendly Buncombe, and over eighty organizations and agencies that are contributing to this work! If you are interested in learning more or would like to become involved, email age.friendly@buncombecounty.org     

To read the Age-Friendly Action Plan, click here.