Comprehensive Aging Plan
More people are living longer and healthier lives. The increase in adults ages 50 years and older will continue over the next decade. In 2024, the Baby Boomer generation range in age from 60 to 78 years old. Individuals who are Generation X are 44 to 59 years old. The oldest members of the largest age cohort in the United States, the Millennials, is 43 years old. By 2034, the United States Census estimates that there will be more older adults than children and youth ages 0-18 years old.
Durham is also experiencing this shift in our demographics.The number of Durham adults 60-65 years old will grow from 61,258 in 2022 to 91,220 in 2042. Additionally, there will be a 149% increase in the number of individuals age 85 years and older.
To ensure that Durham’s resources are more equitably accessible to all aging adults, we need enhanced collaboration between local government, healthcare, public health, nonprofits, coalitions 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 for 2020-2025 and one for 2025-2030.
In 2023, AWD convened 5 livability groups to update the 2025-2030 Durham Comprehensive Aging Plan.
The 2025 Comprehensive Aging Plan reflects Durham’s assets and priorities now and over the next 5 years. It covers 9 domains of livability:
- Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation
- Civic Engagement & Employment
- Community Support & Health Services
- Housing
- Older Adult Hunger & Nutrition
- Outdoor Spaces and Buildings
- Respect & Inclusion
- Social Participation
- Transportation
The 2025-2030 Comprehensive Aging Plan also includes 10 cross-cutting issues. They are:
- Accessibility, in all forms
- Communication, including digital equity
- Community safety
- Climate resiliency
- Dementia
- Intergenerational opportunities & spaces
- Racial equity
- Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Social support
- Socioeconomic status
We are finalizing the 2025-2030 Plan now. We look forward to sharing it with you soon!
Five livability groups developed the 2020 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 2020 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 aging adults who are the most-impacted by health and social inequities.
