ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the release of the County’s “Age-Friendly Howard County Five-Year Progress Report.” Recently approved by AARP, this report highlights the progress made these last five years to implement the more than 50 recommendations outlined in the County’s Age-Friendly Howard County Action Plan.
Since we launched our Age-Friendly Howard County initiative in December 2019, we have worked tirelessly to fulfill the World Health Organization’s and AARP’s eight ‘domains of livability’ and implement our inaugural Age-Friendly Howard County Action Plan. Through the hard work, determination and perseverance of our community partners, local businesses, nonprofits and County staff, we have together these last five years, created an age-friendly community that serves people of all ages and ability levels.
As outlined in the report, the County to date has begun and/or completed more than 120 action items to transform Howard County into an Age-Friendly community, including:
- Opening the new East Columbia 50+ Center and revamping the Bain 50+ Center;
- Introducing the first Age-Friendly Tables for Connection at Cedar Lane Park West and Martin Road Park;
- Unveiling the County’s first Age-Friendly Fitness Lot at Centennial Park North;
- Implementing the award-winning Complete Streets Design Manual;
- Launching a nationally recognized Ageism Awareness Campaign that supports the County’s Department of Community Resources and Services’ (DCRS) work to reframe aging; and
- Enhancing intergenerational and intercultural programming in all 50+ centers to better serve Howard County’s increasingly diverse community and encourage more connectivity among generations.
Throughout this exciting five-year journey, the community workgroups and other partners used an age-friendly lens to address ideas and concerns and to ensure inclusiveness across race, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and cognitive, intellectual and physical abilities. The age-friendly view ensures more equity in planning, program development and service delivery and a safer, healthier Howard County.
“This report is so impressive, filled with innovation. AARP commends Howard County on all the hard work it has put in over these five years,” says Bill Armbruster, Senior Advisor, AARP Livable Communities Programs; Community, State and National Affairs. “I look forward to hearing about the plans for the next five years!”
For Howard County to maintain its AARP Age-Friendly community designation, the County must continue its efforts to ensure residents of all ages feel safe, welcomed and engaged. This January 2025, DCRS will begin steps to prepare the County’s next Age-Friendly Howard County Action Plan, that will lay the groundwork for the age-friendly steps to take between 2025 to 2030. This action plan will be especially important, as one in five Howard County residents is projected to be 65 or older by 2030.
To learn more about the County’s Age-Friendly Howard County initiative and/or to view the report, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/age-friendly.