Comprehensive Aging Plan
More people are living longer, healthier and full lives. The increase in adults ages 50 years and older will continue to grow over the next decade. In 2024, the oldest members of Generation X are 59 years old and the oldest Millennials are 43.
Durham is also experiencing this shift in our demographics. Within the next decade, the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management estimates that our community will have more residents ages 65 and older than children and youth ages 0-17.
To ensure that Durham’s resources are more equitably accessible to all older adults and adults who have disabilities, we need enhanced collaboration and coordination across organizations, associations and community members. We also need to work together as neighbors to change harmful biases about aging, disability, paid and family caregivers.
The Durham Comprehensive Aging Plan is our blueprint for doing this!
Durham now has 2 Aging Plans – one that was created in 2019 and a newer one developed in 2023 that will cover 2024-2029.
In 2023, AWD convened 5 livability groups to update the 2019 version of the Aging Plan. As each working group developed new definitions and strategies, we realized that instead of an update, we were developing a new Comprehensive Aging Plan.
The 2024-2029 Comprehensive Aging Plan reflects Durham’s assets and priorities now and over the next 5 years. It covers 5 domains of livability:
- Housing
- Social Participation / Respect & Social Inclusion / Elder Abuse, Neglect & Exploitation
- Civic Engagement & Employment
- Community Support & Health Services
- Older Adult Hunger & Nutrition
The 2024-2029 Comprehensive Aging Plan also includes 8 cross-cutting issues. They are:
- Socioeconomic status
- Racial equity
- Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Social support
- Dementia
- Accessibility
- Intergenerational opportunities
- Community safety
We are finalizing the 2024-2029 Plan now. We look forward to sharing it with you soon!
Five livability groups developed the 2019 Aging Plan over 10 months. The groups’ membership included: representatives from community organizations who work with older adults, healthcare, public health, Durham City and County government agencies as well as individual older adults and adults who have disabilities.
The 2019 Aging Plan included a comprehensive list of 33 goals across 9 domains, and included specific strategies and indicators to meet these goals. The nine domains were:
- Outdoor Spaces & Buildings
- Transportation
- Housing
- Social Participation
- Respect & Inclusion
- Civic Participation & Employment
- Communication & Information
- Community Support & Health Service, including Older Adult Hunger and Nutrition
- Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
Recognizing that the Aging Plan must reflect the complex needs and lived experiences of older adults in Durham who face intersecting health and social inequities, the Plan includes 7 cross-cutting issues. Those issues are:
- Socioeconomic Status
- Racial Equity
- LGBTQ+
- Communication & Information
- Intergenerational Lens
- Social Isolation
- Safety & Emergency Preparedness
Aging Well Durham advocates for Durham becoming a more age-friendly community through the direct engagement of older adults and adults who have disabilities who are the most-impacted by health and social inequities.