Age Friendly Tucker: What Makes It a Good Place to Call Home?

Dr. Lois Ricci

Most people when asked will tell you that they feel attached to their community. Where people choose to live is largely determined by their wants and needs, but everyone wants to have access to basic services: safety, good schools, outdoor green space, and access to health services.

A lot is known about what makes us satisfied with our personal lives, jobs and careers but much less about what makes us like where we live. What are the key factors that shape how happy we are with where we live?

Pam Sapp and I reviewed the Age Friendly Domain: Community and Health Services. What does Tucker have that keeps people here and what makes people want to move here? The accessibility to highways, the parks and recreation, schools, police and fire services, and churches rank Tucker high on the list of selling points when realtors are showing homes here.

What about health care in Tucker? Within only a few miles of the city center, Tucker has a hospital and many medical specialties. There is an urgent care center and a pharmacy clinic. Doctors, dentists, physical therapists, counselors, and pharmacies are also located here. And there are several options for transportation services available to get you to these medical services, including rideshare services, buses, taxis, volunteer groups, and free or low-cost options through DeKalb County Senior Services Link Line (770.322.2950).

Tucker is home to a diverse list of other professional services: lawyers, finance, plumbers, electricians, builders, childcare and lawncare, just to name a few. There are two major grocers and the restaurant scene here includes world-class cuisine from around the world as well as basic comfort food. Tucker residents like to patronize local businesses, and no matter what you need, you can find it in Tucker.

The many parks in Tucker offer relaxation and recreation, with playgrounds, pavilions and walking paths that serve young and old alike. Sports played in the parks and the recreation center include soccer, football, tennis, basketball and pickle ball. A stadium is planned that will host a professional soccer team as well as high-school football games.

Schools in Tucker turn out scholars and athletes, and students are encouraged to participate in school and community activities to make Tucker a more desirable destination for all ages. Learning from Pre-K through high school is provided through public and private institutions, and there are fortythree colleges and universities within fifty miles of Tucker.

While the many clubs and organizations in Tucker cover a diverse range of interests, more of its residents need to be aware of the opportunities for engagement and the need for volunteers. Busy lives can make it difficult to find the time to volunteer, but volunteering is community service that can benefit those giving their time and those enjoying the results of their efforts. Volunteering offers help to people in need, supports worthwhile causes, and serves the community. The right match with an organization or program can help you find friends, connect with the community, and even learn new skills.

While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day. Giving in even simple ways can help those in need and bring something new to you.

In Maslow’s hierarchy of needs pyramid, safety and security is at the bottom, moving through a good quality of life, with satisfaction and well-being at the top. These are the factors that shape how residents of Tucker rate their city, but it is the residents who make and maintain Tucker as an Age Friendly City.

Image courtesy of Tucker-Northlake CID

Dr. Lois Ricci is a longtime resident of Tucker, where she chairs the Tucker Civic Association Lifelong Community Committee. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at Kennesaw State University, where she teaches gerontology courses and the Professional Development in Gerontology Certificate Class. Ricci also serves as an official representative for American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), co-facilitator for the Rosalyn Carter CareNet, and on the board of the Atlanta Regional Commission Advisory Committee on Aging.