Did you know that Grand Rapids is recognized as an Age-Friendly community? In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched Age-Friendly Communities to help cities prepare for the parallel trends of a rapidly aging world population and increasing urbanization. In 2016 the City of Grand Rapids partnered with AARP, an institutional affiliate of WHO, to pursue and obtain accreditation as an Age-Friendly Community. The global initiative aspires to:
The Work of AARP and the City included extensive community engagement and resulted in the draft Grand Rapids Age-Friendly Action Plan. The Action Plan aligns with the City of Grand Rapids values and focuses on Four Domains of Livability with each domain having its own set of Goals and Action Steps.