Contact:
Jim Flaherty
(608) 286-6308
jflaherty@aarp.org

Madison, Wisconsin – AARP Wisconsin today announces that the Village of Shorewood has been officially accepted as Wisconsin’s first member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities.

The Network is an affiliate of the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Program, an international effort launched in 2006 to help cities prepare for rapid population aging and the parallel trend of urbanization. The program has participating communities in more than 20 nations.

The AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities helps participating communities become great places for all ages by adopting such features as safe, walkable streets; better housing and transportation options; access to key services; and opportunities for residents to participate in civic and community activities.

“We are honored to be the first community in Wisconsin to receive AARP’s Age-Friendly Designation,” said Shorewood Village President Guy Johnson. “It’s a testament to our Senior Resource Center, the Shorewood Connects project, and all the other areas of our village that touch the lives of our seniors, be it our businesses, the library, and the rest of our truly inter-generational community.”

Sam Wilson, State Director of AARP Wisconsin, said, “We’re incredibly pleased that Shorewood has put Wisconsin on the map in being the first community in the state to commit to being a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities. Shorewood joins 170 other communities across the country that are actively working toward making their town, city, or county a great place for people of all ages.

“We know from our research at AARP that 80 percent of older adults want to stay in their communities as they age, and Shorewood is at the forefront of making sure our communities are not only great places to grow up and work, but are also thriving areas for older adults.”

Shorewood has taken the initial steps to enter the Network, which demonstrates its commitment to actively engage in an inclusive cycle of continuous improvement in the “8 Domains of Livability” that the World Health Organization has identified as influencing the health and quality of life of older adults.

For information about the AARP Network of Age Friendly Communities or to help your community become an Age Friendly Designated Community, visit: www.aarp.org/livable.

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