{"id":78266,"date":"2018-06-12T18:10:05","date_gmt":"2018-06-12T22:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=78266"},"modified":"2018-06-12T18:11:15","modified_gmt":"2018-06-12T22:11:15","slug":"lehigh-and-northampton-county-accepted-into-the-aarp-age-friendly-communities-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=78266","title":{"rendered":"Lehigh and Northampton County Accepted into the AARP Age-Friendly Communities Network"},"content":{"rendered":"

Featured Image: Becky Bradley, Director of Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, Becky Bartlett, Deputy Director of Administration Northampton County, Ray O\u2019Connell Allentown Mayor, Joanne Grossi, AARP Pennsylvania State President, Carmen Bell, Director of Healthy Aging, UWGLV, Bob Donchez, Bethlehem Mayor, Phillips Armstrong, Lehigh County Executive.<\/em><\/p>\n

(Allentown, Pa)- Lehigh and Northampton County announced today they were officially accepted into the AARP Age-Friendly Communities Network. They join Allegheny County as the only other counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with this distinction and honor.<\/p>\n

The announcement featured AARP Pennsylvania State President Joanne Grossi, Ray Landis, Senior Manger Advocacy, Carmen Bell, Director of Healthy Aging at United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley(UWGLV), as well as Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong, and Northampton County Deputy Director of Administration, Becky Bartlett, representing Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure who also supports the initiative.<\/p>\n

Lehigh Valley municipalities were also well represented with Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez and Allentown Mayor Ray O\u2019Connell in attendance. In addition, representatives for the offices of State Rep. Mike Schlossberg, Ryan Mackenzie and Justin Simmons were also present to show their support.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday is a remarkable and crucial day for the Lehigh Valley. I am overjoyed by the multitude of support from our municipalities and the cooperation between the AARP and UWGLV. This network will allow us the Lehigh Valley\u2019s leaders to apply best practices and learn from the success of other cities and counties so that we can build a truly age-friendly environment that prioritizes health and happiness,\u201d said Armstrong.<\/p>\n

Those present all expressed an enduring support and commitment to ensuring that the Lehigh Valley remains a place where aging communities can continue to enjoy our culture, commerce and community.<\/p>\n

\u201cAARP Pennsylvania\u2019s 1.8 million members and their families are pleased that Lehigh and Northampton counties are taking an active role in identifying and addressing the needs of older residents and, by enrolling in the AARP Age-Friendly Network, seek to support our communities to become more livable for older adults and their families,\u201d said Joanne Grossi.<\/p>\n

The AARP Age-Friendly Communities Network provides access to peer evaluation from member communities, access to data and successful age friendly models as well as national recognition for a commitment to a growing older population.
\nPennsylvania has 2.2 million residents over the age of 65, accounting for 17.5% of the state\u2019s population according to the PA State Data Center. The Lehigh Valley is closely aligned with this trend, with 106,000 residents over 65, accounting for 16% of the region\u2019s population according to the UWGLV.<\/p>\n

Information provided to TVL by:
\nJoshua Siegel
\nPublic Information Officer
\nCounty of Lehigh, Office of the County Executive
\n17 S. 7th Street, 4th Floor, Suite 436
\nAllentown, PA 18101
\nwww.lehighcounty.org<\/p>\n

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