AKRON, Ohio — Summit County has declared May Older Americans Month to celebrate seniors and their contributions and to encourage them to participate in local age-friendly events, the county said in a release.
The initiative dovetails with work led by Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro over the past few years to designate Summit County an AARP Age-Friendly Community.
To earn AARP’s Age-Friendly designation, Summit County had to show it worked to enable people of any age, income level or ability to thrive here.
To do so, in 2021, the county undertook a comprehensive program to gather information about older residents’ needs in key areas, including transportation, recreation, communication, health care and civic engagement, to recommend ways to make them more equitable and accessible.
Last year, the city of Akron and Summit County joined forces to create Akron-Summit Age-Friendly, a coalition of governments, local agencies and residents aiming to continue that work.
Now, a collaboration comprising the county, the city of Akron, Direction Home Akron Canton, the Better Business Bureau of Akron and VANTAGE Aging is launching an Age-Friendly Seal of Approval pilot, allowing businesses and organizations that meet set criteria to become certified age-friendly.
On Friday, May 26, the Akron Zoo will be the first zoo in Ohio to receive the Age-Friendly Seal of Approval marked by Age-Friendly Friday at the zoo.
Age-Friendly Friday runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave. In addition to special ticket promotions, the zoo will offer seniors giveaways, snacks and a chance to win a family membership, the zoo said.
All residents of Summit County should have access to amenities that enable them to thrive, Shapiro said.
“By giving our businesses the opportunity to earn this certification, we are ensuring our older adults are included in our economy and community,” she said. “The zoo has been a champion at leading by example, and we are proud to embark on this pilot program alongside it, BBB and Vantage.”
Summit County was accepted into its AARP’s Age-Friendly program in 2020, joining nearly 600 communities across the country working to become age-friendly, according to AARP.
According to findings released in 2021 from the Summit County Age-Friendly Needs Assessment, seniors will comprise 30% of Summit County’s population by 2030.
By 2034, there will be more Americans over 65 than children under 18, according to AARP.
In Summit County, Older Adults Month also includes the 2023 Senior Summit on May 19, organized by Probate Court Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer.
The summit is a conference offering attorneys, health care workers and social workers and other professionals an opportunity to earn continuing education units and continuing legal education credits to improve their service to older adults.
The Senior Summit keynote speaker is retired Deputy District Attorney Paul Greenwood, former head of San Diego’s Elder Abuse Prosecution Unit.