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Montgomery County marks 10th anniversary of Age Friendly designation, urges residents to complete needs survey
Summary
Council and County Executive read a proclamation marking the tenth anniversary of Montgomery County's age friendly community initiative, speakers recalled early coalition-building, COVID-era vaccine prioritization for seniors and asked residents to complete a county needs assessment survey.
Montgomery County celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Age Friendly designation at a council meeting on Nov. 4, with leaders recalling the 2012'era grassroots work that led to adoption and highlighting ongoing programs to help older residents age in place.
Councilmember Gay Balbornoz and County Executive Mark Elrich praised the initiative's public-private partnerships and cited examples such as volunteer "Villages" and the county's decision during the COVID vaccine rollout to prioritize seniors for the doses the county had allocated. Dr. James Bridgers and other leaders credited sustained grant-seeking and community partnerships with bridging the digital divide and expanding services to older adults.
The proclamation notes that residents aged 60 and older make up about 22% of the county population and that the 60-and-over population is projected to grow significantly by 2045. County leaders urged residents ages 55 and older to complete an Age Friendly Montgomery needs assessment survey online to guide future planning.
Why it matters: The county's age-friendly work coordinates transportation, housing, health and social services to help seniors remain in their communities and maintain access to services.
Next steps: County staff will continue outreach to encourage survey participation and will use the assessment to guide priorities across transportation, senior nutrition, home-and community-based services and public safety for older adults.
Selected quote: "I was proud 12 years ago to have been on the ground level and have had a small role in the development of this initiative, but it has truly made an impact on every single one of us," said Councilmember Gay Balbornoz.
