Leon County Unveils Comprehensive Age-Friendly Action Plan for Enhanced Community Living

Leon County proudly announces the acceptance of its Age-Friendly Action Plan by both the Leon County Board of County Commissioners and AARP. This transformational plan represents a critical milestone in the County’s goal to become a more age-friendly community through ongoing participation in the AARP Age-Friendly Communities Network. The Action Plan can be accessed here: Leon County Age-Friendly Action Plan. 
 
“Becoming an Age-Friendly Community is vital to ensure that our residents of all ages can enjoy a high quality of life,” said Leon County Commission Chair Carolyn D. Cummings. “I am incredibly proud that the Board has accepted this comprehensive plan, which is a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to enhance the lives of our community members.”
 
Sunday, June 16, 2024, marks exactly three years since Leon County was accepted as a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. As part of the County’s commitment to being a premier place to live for older adults, the Age-Friendly Action Plan was developed through years of dedicated research and planning by the Department of Planning, Land Management and Community Enhancement (PLACE).
 
“The acceptance of Leon County’s Age-Friendly Action Plan is a testament to our unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for all residents, especially our seniors,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long.
 
The Leon County Age-Friendly Action Plan was informed by feedback from more than 4,000 residents who participated in the Age-Friendly Community Survey in November 2021. As a result, five focus areas were identified to enhance the quality of life for seniors in Leon County:

• Promote Aging in Place: Create services or programs that enable seniors to remain in their homes, including affordable home repair and health support services.
• Community Health: Improve access to health services and in-home care services.
• Community Mobility: Construct more sidewalks, trails and connections to existing walkways and outdoor spaces to maintain and enhance safety, walkability, and public transportation options.
• Social Participation: Create opportunities to improve social participation among older populations that are at an increased risk of loneliness and depression.
• Jobs and Employment: Establish career opportunities for older adults and increase the visibility of existing opportunities.

The Age-Friendly Action Plan includes recommendations and goals for the timely execution of these focus areas over a three-year period. The plan will conclude with an evaluation period that will allow for the creation of new and improved goals. The completion of the plan will allow Leon County to evolve its age-friendly initiatives and continue its work as an official AARP Age-Friendly Community.
 
“We congratulate Leon County on the successful development and implementation of their Age-Friendly Action Plan,” said Director of AARP Florida Jeff Johnson. “This community serves as an inspiring model for what it means to create a better environment for people of all ages. This comprehensive Age-Friendly Action Plan is the perfect combination of local engagement, capacity-building and focusing on positive attitudes towards aging.”
 
For more information, contact Artie White, Director of PLACE, at (850) 891-6432 / Artie.White@Talgov.com, or Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at (850) 606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov

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