Earlier this year, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners voted to enact a resolution in support of a new county program called the “Age-Friendly Guilford Initiative.”
In September, the American Association of Retired Persons, better known as the AARP, agreed to recognize Guilford County as an Age-Friendly Community.
Due to this designation by the group, Guilford County will be able to benefit from AARP’s “extensive research and established best practices among age-friendly communities, which includes: access to a global network of participating communities; technical expertise; and financial assistance.”
At the upcoming Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday, Oct. 17, Guilford County will receive its official designation as an Age Friendly Community.
North Carolina has seen key demographic shifts over the decades, and, as of 2021 – the most recent official and verified age stats available – one in six North Carolinians was over the age of 65. That number represents 1.8 million people, or about 17 percent of the total population of North Carolina.
According to the NC State Center for Health Statistics, by 2031, there will be more people 65 and older in the state than there will be people under 18.
So, it’s understandable that Guilford County is currently focusing on the new needs of the aging.
As part of the new initiative, Guilford County is striving to be “a well-designed, livable community that promotes health and sustains economic growth, which makes for happier, healthier residents of all ages.”
In the past when Guilford County government has talked about ways to become more “age-friendly,” some commenters on Rhino Times’ stories stated that the best way county government could help the elderly would be to reduce taxes. For the current Board of Commissioners, that doesn’t seem like something within the realm of possibility – however, county leaders are taking other steps to make the county more age-friendly.
Creating an age-friendly Guilford County for the elderly means that the county will work to ensure that the physical, social and service environments are designed to support the needs of the aging, allow seniors independence, and raise their quality of life.
That means doing things like improving accessibility and mobility, having a pedestrian-friendly infrastructure with well-maintained sidewalks that, for instance, have needed ramps, as well as crosswalks with traffic signals that allow more time for people to get across the street.
Seniors may be living on fixed incomes, so it also means having a variety of affordable housing options and assisted living opportunities. An age-friendly society also works to allow for the inclusion of older adults in social activities held by the community. It also does things like offer accessible parks, walking trails and outdoor exercise equipment that can easily be used by seniors.
The AARP and the county commissioners want to hear ideas from residents as to how the county can be made more age-friendly.
According to the agenda item on the Thursday, Oct. 17 meeting, “An age-friendly community serves as a pathway to inclusiveness and addresses the changing needs of our residents as they age. All communities within Guilford County whether through governmental entities, businesses, non-profits, the faith community, or its citizens are able to make recommendations for a stronger infrastructure as it relates to housing, transportation, food insecurity, and other domains as identified through the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.”
Earlier this month a special day – October 7 – was devoted nationally to raising the awareness of ageism and how to guard against allowing the elderly to get mistreated or socially excluded.
Last month, in a public statement, American Society on Aging Interim President Leanne Clark-Shirley stated, “We live in an aging society, which is a wonderful, remarkable thing. But too many of us view aging with fear, denial and even hostility. We are all growing older. We can’t afford to limit ourselves and other people with such negative and harmful views, and why would we want to? Let’s lean into the opportunities, diversity and full range of experiences that come with aging.”
Lol, who gets the kickbacks! Age friendly? How about reduced services and a beautiful Grey trashcan? How about ridiculously high taxes for no nothing pet projects? Is this story a joke?
So, I live on a fixed income and you raised my property taxes by 30%. What a friendly gesture!
Btw: AARP was a leading force in establishing Obama care. I dropped my membership long ago.
Socially excluded? As a person ages after 65-70 years, it is more difficult to do simple things like walking. And walking at a semi-fast pace is difficult. There are exceptions to this but very, very few. Older people enjoy being with other older people because they share the same limitations and memories. Being around young people is good in a limited sort of way. Did Guilford County or AARP ask the Guilford County aging population what they would like? If they had, the responses would have been to feel safe, to live in their own home, low property taxes for everyone to be able to afford to live in their own home, safe neighborhoods, reliable transportation when they can no longer drive, and healthcare that focuses on wellness not just treating aches and pains, and low inflation to be able to afford the basics, like food and medicine. Liberals believe they know what’s best for others without knowing what is best for others.
You’re right, TL.
Medicine is exempt from Sales Tax, and food should be too. This would help retired people on a fixed income as well as young working families who struggle to buy food. In fact, it would help everyone who eats.
NC is one of the few states that impose a tax on food. It’s very regressive and inequitable.
Over-the-counter medicine, e.g. aspirin and other such drugs for pain are taxed. Of course, aspirin is used for other purposes other than for pain. NC does not impose a food tax, Guilford County does. Remember that that while voting “NO” to Skippy’s tax increase.
Every county in North Carolina charges a 2% sales tax on food. Prior to the imposition of the “Food Tax”, not a single county in NC taxed food. The funds are remitted to Raleigh. You cannot buy groceries in this state without being charged sales tax.
Therefore it is perfectly accurate to say that NC imposes a food tax. It was initially imposed by the then Governor of the state, “Food Tax Terry” Sanford. in 1961 – as a temporary tax.
You really are a captious, argumentative individual, huh? The comment I made was complimentary, and still you want to split hairs and argue about it.
Oh, Austin, I was not trying to be argumentative with my comment. I was trying to make clear who is responsible for the tax on groceries so voters can direct their “unpleasantness” toward the party responsible. The NC legislature gave counties the authority to continue a sales tax on groceries, and counties acted accordingly. This gives the state cover from directly violating the “temporary” status of the tax from 1961, while knowingly keeping the tax because the counties did exactly what the state knew they would do, continue to tax groceries. So, in a roundabout way, the state does continue the tax. It is difficult to understand why anyone would vote for more taxes. Taxes never go away. Vote AGAINST Skip Alston’s tax increase.
Governor Terry Sanford was responsible for imposing NC Sales Tax on food, during one of the many cash flow crunches that occur under Democratic Administrations.
He promised it was a temporary measure, but while the state element got repealed (thanks to Robin Hayes & the NC GOP) the county element remains.
So we must still pay 2% Sales Tax on our groceries.
And you’re right again – there’s no such thing as a temporary tax.
And “Skippy’s tax increase” would NOT apply to groceries anyway.
The AARP is a politic-based outfit. If you make a donation to the AARP, they will allow you to use their name to promote your products, like………..INSURANCE. Insurance that can be purchased elsewhere at lower prices, or in the case of health insurance for seniors, the same identical product that you can purchase anywhere on your own – the endorsement means nothing. And of course, I still get insurance junk from the AARP, although I have not been a member for over 12 years – and I cannot stop it.
A.A.R.P. = American Association of Retired Progressives
Miller is right – it’s a left wing political outfit, disguised as a lobbying organization for old people.
The better choice is AMAC, The Association of Mature American Citizens. I gave up the left leaning AARP years ago and joined AMAC. I can assure you they are far from being a left-wing political association.