Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh, an initiative by Southwestern Pennsylvania Partnership for Aging and Pitt School of Social Work, is bringing generations together to make the Pittsburgh region more inclusive and respectful of all ages.
Allegheny County is growing older—and fast. Compared to other regions its size, our county has the second largest concentration of older residents in the United States behind only Palm Beach, FL. Almost 20% of residents are ages 65+, compared to 17% nationally. Our region will see an 85% increase in people ages 85+ by 2050.
This new demographic reality is an opportunity. Older adults have career expertise, lived experience, buying power and diverse skills. But the world—the built environment and the social environment—was not designed for all ages and abilities.
It should be.
At Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh, we believe in aging in community—having opportunities to participate in life our entire life. We should all be able to work, play and meet for a meal. We should all be able to choose (and do) what matters to us. By working together to make our region more age-friendly, we’re saying to older adults and people of all ages and abilities: We care about you. We respect you. We want you here.
Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh is part of a global movement to create better communities for people of all ages. Our region is one of 1400+ communities across 51 countries in the World Health Organization Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities and one of 800+ communities in the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. As the primary research partner, the School of Social Work is tracking the impact of a robust Action Plan launched in December 2022.
This Action Plan is a three-year roadmap for advancing equity through advocacy, education and innovation in partnership with 120+ local organizations. Highlights include:
Age-Friendly Neighborhoods
Age-Friendly Neighborhoods are good places to grow up and grow old. The program empowers local leaders to improve the experiences of older adults and people of all ages in their neighborhood. These communities bring age-friendly projects to life, and amplify older adult voices through storytelling and intergenerational events. Clairton, Coraopolis and the Hill District were chosen as the inaugural cohort for a two-year term (2022-2024). Learn more in this short video.
Age-Friendly Community Panel
The Age-Friendly Community Panel is a group of primarily older residents, representing eight communities across Allegheny County: Braddock, Clairton, Coraopolis, Downtown, Duquesne, Hazelwood, McKeesport and Wilkinsburg. They are trained and paid to consult with neighborhood leaders, local businesses and other community members on age-friendly policies to make our neighborhoods more livable for everyone.
Age-Friendly Scholars
Age-Friendly Scholars are the next generation of leaders passionate about aging issues and the global age-friendly movement. The 2023-2024 cohort of Scholars includes 10 undergraduate and graduate students from University of Pittsburgh, Carlow University, Carnegie Mellon University and Penn State Greater Allegheny, representing fields like health sciences, social work, engineering, film, information systems and business.
Work Groups
Local experts who work in and outside of aging lead work groups in transportation, housing, digital access, workforce and dementia. They collaborate on ways to improve the experience of older adults and people of all ages.
Connect with Us
Visit our website at agefriendlypgh.org
Call us at 412-532-7144
Email us at info@agefriendlypgh.org
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