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Milwaukee becomes the first AARP 'Age-Friendly" county in Wisconsin

Milwaukee County has joined the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) network of "Age-Friendly Communities" throughout the U.S., making it the first county in Wisconsin to receive the designation. The AARP's initiative allows member communities to "become better for citizens of all ages," by adopting new features as part of an existing framework, according to a Jan. 21 press release. The nonprofit uses its "8 Domains of Livability" for those in the network, consisting of: Outdoor spaces and buildings Transportation Housing Social participation Respect and social inclusion Work and civic engagement Communication and information Community and health services Amber Miller, senior associate state director of community outreach for AARP Wisconsin, said in the press release the organization's research shows "80 percent of older adults want to stay where they are as they age." "Milwaukee County is at the forefront of making sure communities are not only great places to grow up and work but are also thriving areas for older adults," Miller said. County leaders accepted the designation at Washington Park Senior Center Thursday, Jan. 23. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley told the Journal Sentinel in an email Jan. 24 the countywide initiative is initially being led by the Department of Health and Human Services, Milwaukee County Parks and Milwaukee County Department of Transportation. "We are in the process of forming an advisory committee that will guide us in developing a plan to address AARP's domains of a livable community," Crowley said. "We will continue to work closely with AARP and anticipate making tremendous progress in the first five years, but are hopeful the benefits will extend far beyond that timeframe." The AARP's network is also part of a broader global effort. It's an affiliate of the World Health Organization's Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Program, which was launched in 2006 "to help cities prepare for rapid population aging and the parallel trend of urbanization," according to the press release. More than 20 nations are currently involved. To learn more about the AARP's "Age-Friendly Communities," click here. While Milwaukee County is the first county in Wisconsin to received the designation, 13 municipalities across the state are already involved, including: Appleton Greendale La Crosse Madison Oshkosh Reedsburg Sheboygan Shorewood Stevens Point Wausau Wauwatosa West Allis West Bend More: These Wisconsin cities ranked among the 'best' places to retire, according to WalletHub More: Milwaukee County's low-income seniors may struggle to afford fresh produce. But this program is a big help. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: AARP designates Milwaukee County as an 'Age-Friendly Community'