Active Aging Week: Redefining Active @ Montgomery County, MD

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

Since 2018, Montgomery County, MD, has been participating in Active Aging Week (AAW), an international weeklong event celebrating the positivity of aging and active living. Committed to empowering its older residents and to reinforcing collaboration among local organizations, Montgomery County customized AAW to the community's needs. A series of events were scheduled annually during AAW to support and promote the benefits of leading healthy physical, mental and intellectual lifestyles across the lifespan. The events are co-sponsored by various Montgomery County government agencies and departments, including Montgomery County Public Libraries, Montgomery County Recreation, Health and Human Services, Montgomery County Environmental Protection, Montgomery Parks as well as local community nonprofit organizations and hospitals such as Adventist HealthCare. Because of the robust collaborative efforts of these groups, AAW has been able to offer annually more than 90 events and to implement a unique signature event that has increased awareness about the benefits of AAW, has engaged all partners, community leaders, and older adults in general. AAW successfully adapted to the COVID-19 circumstances and restrictions and catered to the needs of the public – switching most programs and activities to a virtual format and ensuring that in-person events were always safe, ADA compliant, and free to attend.