The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 9 adopted a proclamation designating Oct. 9, 2025, as Ageism Awareness Day in the county.

County officials said the proclamation recognizes ageism as stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination based on age and cites county demographics showing more than 47,000 residents aged 65 and older — about 20% of the county population. The proclamation notes the county’s earlier action to join the AARP and World Health Organization network of age‑friendly communities.

Tina Newsham, coordinator of the gerontology program at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Amber Smith, director of the New Hanover County Senior Resource Center, spoke after the proclamation was read. Newsham thanked the board for the proclamation and emphasized the public‑health and social impacts of negative attitudes about aging, saying, “Ageism is a massive challenge in our society and often goes unnoticed.” She described age‑friendly approaches as shaping infrastructure and programs to keep people active and connected across long lives.

The county proclamation text — which the board adopted and that was signed by Chair William E. Rivenbark — lists preventing ageism in education, employment, housing, culture and health care among the county’s stated goals and cites a research finding in the proclamation that “holding positive ideas about our older future selves is associated with a 7.5 increase in life expectancy.”

Commissioners moved and seconded adoption of the proclamation, and the board took a photo with the presenters after the vote. The board did not take any additional action tied to new funding or program changes at the meeting.

County and university speakers urged outreach and continued program development to reduce ageism and support older residents, and thanked the board for formalizing the county’s commitment to be age friendly.