Fall 2018
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Long Beach Health Aging Center<br />
identify and recommend strategies<br />
for making the City of Long Beach<br />
a livable community that promotes<br />
the health and wellbeing of older<br />
adults and residents of all ages.<br />
In the next two decades, the number<br />
of adults’ ages 65 and older<br />
will increase from 15% to 22%<br />
nationally. In fact, the year 2035<br />
will mark the first time in U.S.<br />
history that older adults will outnumber<br />
children. It is the vision<br />
that both the LB Healthy Aging<br />
Center and Age-Friendly Consortium<br />
partners will work together<br />
to better plan and prepare for the<br />
growing aging population through<br />
innovative strategies that promote<br />
improved outcomes and build<br />
communities that are committed<br />
to giving residents of all ages the<br />
opportunity to live rewarding, productive,<br />
and safe lives.<br />
What do you hope to accomplish:<br />
Through my work I hope to engage<br />
different people, highlight<br />
5 | AgeWell Long Beach | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
older adults’ diverse interests,<br />
needs and contributions and help<br />
inform a more balanced discussion<br />
around aging and<br />
older adults. There is currently such<br />
a negative and narrow view of aging<br />
in America.<br />
However, there are other cities in<br />
the US and Countries that have adopted<br />
an age-friendly mindset and<br />
have implemented local<br />
initiatives to better engage<br />
and build on the assets<br />
and contributions of all its<br />
residents. As more Long Beach<br />
residents live longer lives, the city<br />
will grow in its resources—with<br />
more residents with stronger buying<br />
power, career expertise, lived<br />
experience, and diverse skills and<br />
interests, wisdom and experience.<br />
We will draw upon successful age<br />
friendly projects that could be replicated<br />
in Long Beach.<br />
Mercedes Perezchica,<br />
Aging Services Program Manager<br />
Health and Human Services<br />
AgeWell Long Beach | <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2018</strong> | 6